John 4:3

He left the province of Judea, which was near to Jerusalem, where the Pharisees had their chief residence and greatest power; and went the second time into Galilee, whither he went once before, 1 Thessalonians 1:43, where he found Philip and Nathanael. Galilee was a province under the jurisdiction of Herod, Luke 3:1. This motion of our Saviour's into Galilee, is reported by Matthew in Matthew 4:12, and also by Mark in Mark 1:14 and Luke in Luke 4:14. The two former give another reason of his motion, viz. his hearing that John was cast into prison; of which, and the cause of it, see Matthew 14:3; so as after that he publicly preached no more, which might possibly augment the number of Christ's disciples; John's disciples following him. Both these causes probably concurred, to cause this motion. John, who by preaching and baptizing had laid the foundation of a gospel church in Galilee, was imprisoned; and our Saviour knew that, the number of his disciples increasing upon John's confinement, an information had been carried against him to the Pharisees; this made him, knowing that his time was not yet come, withdraw himself out of the province of Judea into that of Galilee, as well to supply the want there (John being in prison) as to provide for his own security.