Luke 4:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

To Capernaum,— Capernaum is no where mentioned in the Old Testament, either by its own name, or by any other. Probably it was one of those towns which the Jews built after their return from Babylon. Its exact situation has not yet been determined with certainty by geographers; only, from its being on the confines of the two tribes, Reland and others conjecture that it stood somewhere on the north-west shore of the lake of Gennezareth. According to Josephus, (Bell. b. 3. 100: 18.) the length of this lake was a hundred furlongs, or twelve miles and a half, and its breadth forty furlongs, or five miles. Pliny says it was sixteen miles long and six broad. Anciently the lake of Gennezareth was called the Sea of Chinnereth, Numbers 34:11 but in latter times it was named the Sea of Galilee, because that country formed part of its shore;—and the Sea of Tiberias, from the city of Tiberias lying on the south-west coast thereof. Its bottom is gravel, which gives its water both a good colour and taste. The river Jordan runs through the middle of it, and stocks it with a great variety of excellent fish. In the countries round this lake our Lord spent two or three years of his public life; and though he afterwards enlarged the compass of his journies, yet they always enjoyed a considerable share of his blessed company and divine instructions. There were several reasons which might determine Jesus to be so much about the sea of Galilee. 1. The countries which surround this sea were large, fertile, and populous, especially the two Galilees. For, according to Josephus, (Bell. 50. 3. 100. 2.) they alone had many towns and a multitude of villages, the least of which contained above 15,000 souls. On the east side of the lake were Chorazin, Bethsaida, Gadara, and Hippon; on the west, Capernaum, Tiberias, and Tarrichea, with other places of inferior note. Wherefore, as it was agreeable to the end of Christ's coming, that his doctrine should be spread extensively, and his miracles wrought publicly, no country could be a better scene for his ministry than this. Besides its numerous inhabitants, there were at all times many strangers resorting to the trading towns on the lake, who, after hearing Jesus preach, could carry home with them theglad tidings of salvation, which were the subject of his sermons. Capernaum, chosen by Christ as the place of his residence, was a town of this kind, and much frequented. 2. The countries round the lake were remote from Jerusalem, the seat of the scribes and Pharisees, a most malignant sort of people, who would not have borne with patience the presence of a teacher held in such estimation as Jesus deservedly was. We know this by what happened in the beginning of his ministry, when he made and baptized many disciples in Judea. They took such offence at it, that he judged it expedient to leave the country: John 4:1 compared with ch. Luke 3:22. Wherefore, as it was necessary that he should spend a considerable time in preaching and working miracles, both for the confirmation of his mission, and for the instruction of his disciples in the doctrine, which they were afterwards to preach, these countries were, of all others, the most proper for him to reside in; or rather, they were the only places where he could be with safety for any time unless he had used his divine power for his own protection. 3. It was agreeable to the end of our Lord's mission, that he should be in a low station of life; because to have affected pomp and grandeur was inconsistent with the character of a teacher sent from God. Some readers, perhaps, will be here pleased to be informed, that Plato, drawing the character of one perfect in virtue, says, "He must be poor, and void of all recommendation but virtue alone." Repub. 2. That the duties of his ministry might be executed as extensively as possible, he and his disciples were obliged to make long journies, the fatigue of which would have been too great for ordinary constitutions to have sustained, had they been all performed on foot. This inconvenience was remedied by the easy passages which the lake afforded. Hence the countries round it were chosen by him as a scene of his ministry, preferably to the other parts of the land of Israel. Farther, as the multitude earnestly wished that he would take the title of king, and set up a secular empire, it was necessary, according to the mode which he had prescribed for his own conduct, that he should have the opportunity of retiring from them when they became troublesome. Accordingly, we find him and his disciples making their escapes by the lake; passing easily and speedily in their own boats, from one country to another, as occasion required. 4. Capernaum, of all the towns near the lake, was pitched upon by Jesus as the place of his ordinary residence after his expulsion from Nazareth, because he was sure of meeting with a favourable reception there. He had gained the friendship of the principal family in the city; viz. that of the nobleman, whose son he had curedat Cana: and the good-will which this family, with its relations, bare to him, was not an ordinary kindness, like that which persons bear to a benefactor; but, being struck with the miracle, they firmly believed him tobe the Messiah, heartily espoused his cause, and, no doubt, were ready to assist him on all occasions. Besides, this miracle must have conciliated the love and respect of the inhabitants of Capernaum, to whom it could not but be well known. Nor mustwe omit the foreknowledge which Jesus had of his being to gain the favour of a Roman centurion, (Matthew 8:5; Matthew 8:34.) and of a ruler of the synagogue, (Mark 5:22.) both living in this town, whose friendship likewise would protect him from the insults of his enemies. To conclude, Capernaum was a place where the men dwelt who had become his disciples immediately after his baptism, and whose presence he chose to have very frequently, before he called them to leave their families, and attend upon him constantly. But we must ever remember that all this arose primarily from his not judging it expedient to use the power of his supreme Godhead on trivial occasions.