Catena Aurea on Matthew 3:1–3: Augustine of Hippo

Luke describes the time by the reigning sovereigns. [Luke 3:1] But Matthew must be understood to speak of a wider space of time by the phrase ‘those days,’ than the fifteenth year of Tiberius. Having related Christ’s return from Egypt, which must be placed in early boyhood or even infancy, to make it agree with what Luke has told of His being in the temple at twelve years old, he adds directly, “In those days,” not intending thereby only the days of His childhood, but all the days from His birth to the preaching of John.