Matthew 4:12-17

The Kingdom of heaven planted itself on this earth when Jesus began His ministry.

Following His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returns to the region of Galilee and begins His ministry. This is approximately ad 28. Luke estimates that Jesus was around 30 when He began His public ministry.

The age for priestly jobs: Num 4:2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, Num 4:3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. See also Num 4:23 , Num 4:30, Num 4:35, Num 4:39. 

This is the reason Jesus waited till he was 30. (Luke 3:23) to enter public life.

These tribes were allotted territory in what became known as Galilee, but the Jewish population was largely displaced during the Persian period (ca. 550–330 bc). The inhabitants of Jesus’ day were mostly Gentiles (non-Jewish people) or descendants of Jews who had resettled in the region.

The Greek word used here, kēryssō, connotes a different sort of proclamation than the modern verb “preach” expresses. It often was used to describe official pronouncements of sovereigns, such as declarations of state visits or changes in taxation. Faithlife Bible.

The phrase from that time Jesus began occurs twice in the Book of Matthew (16:21). Each reference marks a crucial direction in the book. This one looks to the beginning of His earthly ministry, while 16:21 anticipates His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus’ exhortation was identical to that of John the Baptist (3:2). NKJ Bible.

Matthew 4:12–17 (NKJV)

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. ¹³ And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

¹⁵ “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles:

¹⁶ The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death

Light has dawned.”

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ and saying,  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Isaiah 9:1 (NKJV

9 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,

As when at first He lightly esteemed

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward more heavily oppressed her,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

In Galilee of the Gentiles.

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV)

² The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.