{When John had first preached} (prok(8872)uxantos I(9361)nou).
Literally, John heralding beforehand, as a herald before the king
( Lu 3:3 ). Genitive absolute of first aorist active participle
of prok(8872)uss(935c), old verb to herald beforehand, here alone in the
N.T., though Textus Receptus has it also in  Ac 3:20 . {Before
his coming} (pro pros(9370)ou t(8873) eisodou autou). Literally, before
the face of his entering in (here act of entrance as  1Th 1:9 ,
not the gate as in  Heb 10:19 ). See  Mal 3:1  quoted in  Mt
11:10  ( Lu 7:27 ) for this Hebrew phrase and also  Lu 1:76 .
{The baptism of repentance} (aptisma metanoias). Baptism
marked by, characterized by (genitive case, case of kind or
species) repentance (change of mind and life). The very phrase
used of John's preaching in  Mr 1:4  Lu 3:3 . It is clear
therefore that Paul understood John's ministry and message as did
Peter ( Ac 2:38  10:37 ).