Matthew 8:1

When he was come down from the mountain
Into which he went up, and preached the sermon recorded in the "three" preceding chapters:

great multitudes followed him:
which is mentioned, partly to shew, that the people which came from several parts, still continued with him, being affected with his discourses and miracles; and partly on account of the following miracle, of healing the leper, which was not done in a corner, but before great multitudes, who were witnesses of it: though some think this miracle was wrought more privately.