Mark 1:4

“John did baptize in the wilderness, etc..] Of Judea, (<400301>Matthew 3:1), where he first appeared as a preacher; and is the same wilderness Isaiah has respect to in the above prophecy, (<234003>Isaiah 40:3). The words are best rendered in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; “John was in the wilderness, baptizing and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins”: according to which, the account of the Baptist begins with his name, John; describes the place where he was where he made his first appearance, and continued in, the wilderness; which was not a wild uninhabited place and without people, but had many cities, towns, and villages in it; and also declares his work…”

“See the notes at Matthew 3:3, Matthew 3:5-6, Matthew 3:11. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Preaching the baptism of repentance - That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it. Mark 1:7”

“1:4 John’s mission as the Lord’s messenger was to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming (see Luke 1:76-77) by instructing them to confess their sins, turn to God for forgiveness, and be baptized. Those who did this were prepared to receive Jesus’ message (see Luke 7:29-30). • That John was in the wilderness, probably the desert area around the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea, shows that he was the “voice” of whom Isaiah had spoken (Mark 1:3). • be baptized: The exact origin of John’s baptism is unclear. The Qumran community had an initiatory “baptism” which was repeated regularly, but John’s baptism was once for all. Jewish proselyte baptism has also been seen as a possible source, but…”

“did: Mat 3:1, Mat 3:2, Mat 3:6, Mat 3:11; Luk 3:2, Luk 3:3; Joh 3:23; Act 10:37, Act 13:24, Act 13:25, Act 19:3, Act 19:4 for: or, unto remission: Act 22:16 Mark 1:5”