Dale Allison sees verse 1 as a "transitional sentence".[4] Jesus continues to preach,[5] but he is alone at this point.[3]Cornelius a Lapide believes that this verse indicates that Jesus separated Himself from His Apostles, whom He sent to preach the Gospel. A brief synopsis of what the apostles did is related in Luke 9:6 and Mark 6:12.[6]
It was during the absence of the twelve that a delegation from John the Baptist arrived.[3]
Commentary from the Church Fathers
Rabanus Maurus: "The Lord having sent out His disciples to preach with the foregoing instructions, Himself now fulfils in action what He had taught in words, offering His preaching first to the Jews; And it came to pass when Jesus had ended all these sayings, he passed thence."[5]
Chrysostom: "Having sent them forth, He withdrew Himself, giving them opportunity and time to do the things that He had enjoined; for while He was present and ready to heal, no man would come to His disciples."[5]
Saint Remigius: "He well passes from the special teaching which He had delivered to His disciples, to the general which He preached in the cities; passing therein as it were from heaven to earth, that He might give light to all. By this deed of the Lord, all holy preachers are admonished that they should study to benefit all."[5]