Day 3 Israel Part 3: Bethsaida & Capernaum

Leaving Kursi we drove west and stopped at Bethsaida.  On the current map of Israel it is spelled Bet Tzaida.  This archaeological site is found in the Jordan River Park.  It’s believed to be the fortified city of Geshur as found in the Old Testament, and known as Bethsaida in the New Testament.  It was the site of some of Jesus’ most important miracles (Jesus feeds the 5000 & healed the blind man) and the birthplace of three apostles (Peter, Andrew & Philip).

(click to read about Bethsaida)

(original 3000 year old road)

There are 18 various groups and organizations that are conducting archaeological excavations on the site!

 (Excavated city gate leading into Bethsaida)

The last stop for the day we traveled just a little further west and stopped at Capernaum. This location is the center of Jesus’ Galilee Ministry and is located at the top shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

Capernaum is where the Apostle Peter lived (see Matthew 8).  Archaeological excavations have revealed two ancient synagogues that were built one over the other.

(click to enlarge & read)

(inside the Synagogue)

The Apostle Peter's home is also to have been located here.

Archaeologists have concluded that one house in the village was venerated as the house of Peter the fisherman as early as the mid-1st century, with two churches having been constructed over it.

This is a picture of the most recent church built over what is believed to have been the location of Peter's home.

me with our Guide Shimon at Capernaum

Lastly, in our travels today we did cross the Jordan River several times but did not stop for pictures.  I took this one out of the bus window and reveals that it is basically a small river or even just a stream in our present day!

What a day it has been!  My head is spinning but I am also beginning to put the land together in a way I never understood before. (I have been following our journey on a road map that was given to us)  I also picked up a book mark today and on it is quoted from Deuteronomy 11 "It is a land of hills and valleys...a land which the Lord the God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it". It certainly is a land of "hills" for I have NEVER had to climb up and down so much and over so many rocks!!  I know there is much fertile land in Israel because they import NO food!  I just have not seen that land yet.  But whenever I read scripture from the days of this visit forward; I will see it in a whole new light.  For that I am very grateful to be here!