Annas. See App-94.
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests. Caiaphas was the High Priest as successor of Aaron; while Annas was the Nasi, or head of the Sanhedrin (as successor of Moses), and thus associated with Caiaphas in government. This explains John 18:13; John 18:24, and Acts 4:6.
the word of God came, &c. See App-82. Compare Jeremiah 1:2.Ezekiel 6:1, &c. John was the last and greatest of the prophets.
unto. upon. Greek. epi. App-104. Not the same word as in Luke 9:12; Luke 9:13; Luke 9:14.
John the son of Zacharias. In Matthew, John the Baptist.
the wilderness: i.e. in the cities and towns of the opencountry. See Luke 3:4; Joshua 15:61; Joshua 15:62. and 1Sa 23:14, 1 Samuel 23:24.