ABSTRACT
The opening scenes are foundational, providing a context and perspective for the story. Through the narrative of the baptism, Jesus moves from anonymity to become the central figure of the story. The following narratives (in 1.12-20) illuminate the whole story for the reader. The summary account of the testing of Jesus signals a dimension that the reader must keep in mind. Similarly, the summary of Jesus’ preaching does not indicate an audience because it does not represent a single act of preaching, but stands over the whole of Jesus’ (Galilean) ministry. The call of the first four disciples is placed before the first event of Jesus’ public ministry in the synagogue at Capernaum to make clear Jesus’ authority and his manner of working with a group of disciples. The choosing and formal appointment of the twelve is narrated only in 3.13-19.
