# Connecting Statement:

As the prophet Isaiah had foretold, John begins to preach good news to the people.

# General Information:

These verses give background information to tell what is happening when Jesus' cousin John begins his ministry.

# In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar

"when Tiberius Caesar had ruled for fifteen years" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]])

# Philip ... Lysanias

These are the names of men. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# Ituraea and Trachonitis ... Abilene

These are names of territories. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])

# during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas

"while Annas and Caiaphas were serving together as the high priest." Annas was the high priest, and the Jews continued to recognize him as such even after the Romans appointed his son-in-law, Caiaphas, to replace him as high priest.

# the word of God came

This idiom is used to explain that God gave a message to someone. AT: "God spoke his message" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/caesar]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/pilate]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/governor]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/judea]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/herodantipas]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/tetrarch]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/galilee]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/highpriest]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/annas]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/caiaphas]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/wordofgod]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/johnthebaptist]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/names/zechariahnt]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/desert]]