But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence - where, our Evangelist says not; but Mark (Mark 3:7) says "it was to the sea" - to some distance, no doubt, from the scene of the miracle, the madness, and the plotting just recorded.
And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all. Mark gives the following interesting details: "A great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto Him. And he spake to His disciples, that a small ship" - or 'wherry' х ploiarion (G4142)] - "should wait on Him because of the multitude, lest they should throng Him. For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And He straitly charged them that they should not make Him known" (Mark 3:7-12). How glorious this extorted homage to the Son of God! But as this was not the time, so neither were they the fitting preachers, as Bengel says. (See the note at Mark 1:25, and cf. James 2:19.) Coming back now to our Evangelist: after saying "He healed them all," he continues,