John 3:22

King James Version (KJV)

After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Came - into the land of Judea - Jerusalem itself, where Christ held the preceding discourse with Nicodemus, was in Judea; but the evangelist means that our Lord quitted the city and its suburbs, and went into the country parts. The same distinction between Jerusalem and Judea is made, Acts 1:8; Acts 10:39; and in 1 Maccabees 3:34; and in 2 Maccabees 1:1, 10. See Bp. Pearce.

And baptized - It is not clear that Christ did baptize any with water, but his disciples did - John 4:2; and what they did, by his authority and command, is attributed to himself. It is a common custom, in all countries and in all languages, to attribute the operations of those who are under the government and direction of another to him by whom they are directed and governed. Some however suppose that Christ at first did baptize; but, when he got disciples, he left this work to them: and thus these two places are to be understood: -

this place, of Christ's baptizing before he called the twelve disciples; and

2. John 4:2, of the baptism administered by the disciples, after they had been called to the work by Christ.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Land of Judea - The region round about Jerusalem.

And baptized - Jesus did not Himself administer the ordinance of baptism, but his disciples did it by his direction and authority, John 4:2.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his government and peace there would be no end, while he himself would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained; whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon them.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

22. After these things. [Ministry in Judea, John 3:22-36. See Retirement from Public Ministry; The Duration of Christ’s Ministry, the Opening of the Galilean Ministry, The Ministry of Our Lord.] Gr. meta tauta, a common transitional phrase (see chs. 5:1; 6:1; 7:1). “These things,” the events of chs. 2:13 to 3:21, took place at the Passover of a.d. 28 or soon thereafter.

His disciples. John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael (see ch. 1:40-45).

Into the land of JudÃƒÂ¦a. The events of chs. 2:13 to 3:21 occurred in or near Jerusalem. From Jerusalem, Jesus now extended His ministry to the towns and villages of Judea, where He labored for a period of some eight months, from about April to December of the year a.d. 28 (see The Duration of Christ’s Ministry, Opening of the Galilean Ministry, The Ministry of Our Lord; see Additional Note on Luke 4). Except for the brief account of John 3:22-36 the gospel record is silent concerning the details of this period of our Lord’s ministry.

Jesus devoted the opening phase of His public ministry to Jerusalem and Judea, with the specific objective of giving the leaders an opportunity to witness the evidences of His divine mission, to accept Him as the Messiah, and to lead the nation forward to the accomplishment of its divinely appointed task (DA 231; see Vol. IV, pp. 26-30). But despite seeming success the early Judean ministry was largely barren of practical results (see DA 194, 245). In fact, more true conversions occurred on the day of Pentecost than throughout Christ’s earthly ministry (see EGW Supplementary Material on Acts 2:1-4, 14, 41). Jesus’ great popularity (John 3:26) aroused the jealousy of John’s disciples for their master, who was simultaneously preaching and baptizing in the same region. Accordingly, about the month of December, Jesus retired temporarily to Galilee (ch. 4:1-3). He returned to Jerusalem for the Passover of a.d. 29, when His early Judean ministry came to a formal close and He transferred His efforts to Galilee (see Additional Note on Luke 4; the Opening of the Galilean Ministry; see on Matt. 4:12; Luke 4:16).

Tarried Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ baptized. The Greek verbs indicate a protracted ministry. By baptizing, Jesus gave His own approval to the ministry of His forerunner, but He Himself left the actual baptizing to His disciples (ch. 4:2). Like John, Jesus no doubt sought localities where there was “much water” (ch. 3:23). Concerning the rite of baptism itself see on Matt. 3:6.

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Ellen G. White
The Desire of Ages, 178

This chapter is based on John 3:22-36.

For a time the Baptist's influence over the nation had been greater than that of its rulers, priests, or princes. If he had announced himself as the Messiah, and raised a revolt against Rome, priests and people would have flocked to his standard. Every consideration that appeals to the ambition of the world's conquerors Satan had stood ready to urge upon John the Baptist. But with the evidence before him of his power, he had steadfastly refused the splendid bribe. The attention which was fixed upon him he had directed to Another. DA 178.1

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Cross References

these

and baptized

John the Baptist

Jesus' Ministry according to John

Jesus in Judea and Jerusalem

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John 3:22