But when Jesus knew it
Their consultation against him, as he did, not by any discovery
made to him by men, but as the omniscient God; he withdrew
himself from thence; from the synagogue and city, where he was,
to the sea of Galilee, and his disciples with him, as Mark
observes; not through fear, but because his time was not yet
come, that he must suffer and die for his people; he had some
other work to do first, and therefore rightly and wisely provides
for his safety. And great multitudes followed him; from Galilee,
Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and were joined
by another multitude of people, who came from about Tyre and
Sidon, as Mark relates: so that his departure was not so very
private; nor was he forsaken by the common people, though the
Pharisees were so offended with him. And he healed them all; that
stood in need of healing, as many as had plagues and unclean
spirits; practising agreeably to his doctrine, that it was lawful
to do good on the sabbath day, and to heal the bodies as well as
the souls of men.