The New Testament narrative of the life of Jesus refers to several locations in the Holy Land and a Flight into Egypt. In these accounts the principal locations for the ministry of Jesus were Galilee and Judea, with activities also taking place in surrounding areas such as Perea and Samaria. Other places of interest to scholars include locations such as Caesarea Maritima where in 1961 the Pilate stone was discovered as the only archaeological item that mentions the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, by whose order Jesus was crucified.Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: a re-examination of the evidence by Jonathan L. Reed, 2002, , p. 18.
The narrative of the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels is usually separated into sections that have a geographical nature: his Galilean ministry follows his baptism and continues in Galilee and surrounding areas until the death of John the Baptist.Christianity: an introduction by Alister E. McGrath 2006, , pp. 16–22. This phase of activities in the Galilee area draws to an end approximately in Matthew 17 and Mark 9. After the death of John the Baptist and Jesus' proclamation as Christ by Peter, his ministry continues along his final journey towards Jerusalem through Perea and Judea. The journey ends with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21 and Mark 11. The final part of Jesus' ministry then takes place during his last week in Jerusalem which ends in his crucifixion.Matthew by David L. Turner, 2008, , p. 613.
Geography and ministry
In the New Testament accounts, the principal locations for the ministry of Jesus were Galilee and Judea, with activities also taking place in surrounding areas such as Perea and Samaria.The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels by Douglas Redford 2007 pages 117-130 The gospel narrative of the ministry of Jesus is traditionally separated into sections that have a geographical nature.
Galilean ministry Jesus' ministry begins when after his baptism, he returns to Galilee and preaches in the synagogue of Capernaum.Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum: The Pericope and its Programmatic Character for the Gospel of Mark by John Chijioke Iwe 1991 page 7The Gospel according to Matthew by Leon Morris page 71 The first disciples of Jesus encounter him near the Sea of Galilee, and his later Galilean ministry includes key episodes such as Sermon on the Mount (with the Beatitudes) which form the core of his moral teachings.The Sermon on the mount: a theological investigation by Carl G. Vaught 2001 pages xi-xivThe Synoptics: Matthew, Mark, Luke by Ján Majerník, Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt, 2005, , pages 63–68 Jesus' ministry in the Galilee area draws to an end with the death of John the Baptist.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2008 Harmony of the Gospels pages 97-110The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels by Douglas Redford 2007 pages 165-180 Journey to Jerusalem After the death of John the Baptist, about halfway through the Gospels (approximately Matthew 17 and Mark 9) two key events take place that change the nature of the narrative by beginning the gradual revelation of his identity to his disciples: his proclamation as Christ by Peter and his transfiguration.The Christology of Mark's Gospel by Jack Dean Kingsbury 1983 pages 91-95The Cambridge companion to the Gospels by Stephen C. Barton pages 132-133 After these events, a good portion of the Gospel narratives deal with Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem through Perea and Judea.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 Harmony of the Gospels pages 121-135The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels by Douglas Redford 2007 pages 189-207 As Jesus travels towards Jerusalem through Perea he returns to the area where he was baptized.Steven L. Cox, Kendell H Easley, 2007 Harmony of the Gospels page 137The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels by Douglas Redford 2007 pages 211-229Mercer dictionary of the Bible by Watson E. Mills, Roger Aubrey Bullard 1998 page 929 Final week in Jerusalem The final part of Jesus' ministry begins (Matthew 21 and Mark 11) with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem after the raising of Lazarus which takes place in Bethany. The Gospels provide more details about the final portion than the other periods, devoting about one third of their text to the last week of the life of Jesus in Jerusalem which ends in his crucifixion.
Post-Resurrection appearances The New Testament accounts of the resurrection appearances of Jesus and his ascension place him both in the Judea and the Galilee area.
Locations Galilee
Bethsaida: includes the account of the healing of the "Blind man of Bethsaida".The Miracles of Jesus by Craig Blomberg, David Wenham 2003 page 419 Cana: includes the marriage at Cana during which Jesus performs his first miracle.H. Van der Loos, 1965 The Miracles of Jesus, E.J. Brill Press, Netherlands page 599Dmitri Royster 1999 The miracles of Christ page 71 Capernaum: The pericope of Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum amounts to the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus in the New Testament narrative. Capernaum is mentioned in the Gospels several times, and events such as healing the paralytic at Capernaum take place there.The Miracles of Jesus by Craig Blomberg, David Wenham 2003 page 440 Chorazin: In and this village in Galilee appears in the context of the rejection of Jesus. Gennesaret: This town (which no longer exists) was on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The town was perhaps halfway between Capernaum and Magdala.Lamar Williamson 1983 Mark pages 129-130 The town is mentioned during Jesus' healing ministry in Gennesaret recorded in and . Mount of Transfiguration: The location of the mountain for the transfiguration of Jesus is debated among scholars, and locations such as Mount Tabor have been suggested.B. Meistermann, "Transfiguration", The Catholic Encyclopedia, XV, New York: Robert Appleton Company Nain: The pericope of young man from Nain appears in .Luke by Fred Craddock 2009 page 98 This is the first of three instances in the Gospels in which Jesus raises the dead. Nazareth: Nazareth is where young Jesus grows up. During this time he is found in the Temple in Jerusalem by his parents.The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament edition by John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck 1983 page 210 Sea of Galilee: The lake features prominently throughout the New Testament narrative, from the beginning of his ministry to the end. The calling of his first disciples takes place on the shores of this lake.The Gospel according to Matthew by Leon Morris 1992 pages 83Luke by Fred B. Craddock 1991 page 69 Towards the end of the narrative, in the second miraculous catch of fish, a resurrected Jesus appears to his apostles again.J.W. Wenham, The Elements of New Testament Greek, Cambridge University Press, 1965, p. 75.Boyce W. Blackwelder, Light from the Greek New Testament, Baker Book House, 1976, p. 120,
Decapolis and Perea Bethabara: The Gospel of John (1:28) states that John the Baptist was baptizing in "Bethany beyond the Jordan". This is not the village Bethany just east of Jerusalem, but the town Bethany, also called Bethabara in Perea. A different interpretation places Bethabara on the opposite, western bank of the Jordan, in Judea rather than Perea; best known among these is the Madaba Map, which places Betahbara at today's west side of Al-Maghtas, officially known as Qasr el-Yahud. Decapolis: The healing the deaf mute of Decapolis takes place in this area.Lamar Williamson 1983 Mark pages 138-140 Gerasa (also Gergesa or Gadara) is the location of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac in , , and .The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels by Douglas Redford 2007 page 168
Samaria Ænon: The Gospel of John (3:23) refers to Enon near Salim as the place where John the Baptist performs baptisms in the River Jordan, "because there was much water there".Big Picture of the Bible - New Testament by Lorna Daniels Nichols 2009 page 12John by Gerard Stephen Sloyan 1987 page 11 Caesarea Maritima: This port city is the location of the 1961 discovery of the Pilate stone, the only archaeological item that mentions the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, by whose order Jesus was crucified.Historical Dictionary of Jesus by Daniel J. Harrington 2010 page 32Studying the historical Jesus: evaluations of the state of current research by Bruce Chilton, Craig A. Evans 1998 page 465 Sychar: The encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in takes place in Sychar in Samaria near Jacob's Well.The Gospel of John by Joseph Ponessa, Laurie Watson Manhardt 2005 page 39 This is the location of the Water of Life Discourse in .The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction With Commentary and Notes by C. K. Barrett 1955 page 12
Judea Bethany (near Jerusalem): The raising of Lazarus, shortly before Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, takes place in Bethany.Francis J. Moloney, Daniel J. Harrington, 1998 The Gospel of John Liturgical Press page 325 Bethesda: In , the healing of the paralytic takes place at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.The Miracles of Jesus by Craig Blomberg, David Wenham 2003 page 462 Bethlehem: The Gospel of Luke (2:1-7) states that the birth of Jesus took place in Bethlehem.Mills, Watson E.; Bullard, Roger Aubrey (1998). Mercer dictionary of the Bible. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. p. 556. Marsh, Clive; Moyise, Steve (2006). Jesus and the Gospels. New York: Clark International. p. 37. . Bethphage is mentioned as the place from which Jesus sent the disciples to find a donkey for the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. mention it as close to Bethany.The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700 by Jerome Murphy-O'Connor 2008 page 150Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land by Avraham Negev 2005 page 80 Eusebius of Caesarea (Onomasticon 58:13) located it on the Mount of Olives. Calvary (Golgotha): Calvary is the Latin term for Golgotha the Greek translation of the Aramaic term for the place of the skull—the location of the crucifixion of Jesus.Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective by Andreas J. Köstenberger 2002 page 181 Emmaus: Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus () and eats supper with them.Luke by Fred Craddock 1991 page 284Exploring the Gospel of Luke: an expository commentary by John Phillips 2005 pages 297-230 Gabbatha (Lithostrōtos): This location is referenced only once in the New Testament in .Historical Dictionary of Jesus by Daniel J. Harrington 2010 page 62Jesus and archaeology edited by James H. Charlesworth 2006 pages 34 and 573 This is an Aramaic term that refers to the location of the trial of Jesus by Pontius Pilate, and the Greek name of Lithostrōtos (λιθόστρωτος) meaning stone pavement also refers to it. It was likely a raised stone platform where Jesus faced Pilate. James Charlesworth considers this location of high archaeological significance and states that modern scholars believe this location was in the public square just outside the Praetorium in Jerusalem and was paved with large stones.Jesus and archaeology edited by James H. Charlesworth 2006 pages 34 Gethsemane: Immediately after the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples go to the garden at Gethsemane, the location of his agony in the garden and his arrest.Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 1: New Testament by Warren W. Wiersbe 1992 pages 268-269 Jericho: The healing the blind Bartimaeus occurs near Jericho.Mary Ann Tolbert, Sowing the Gospel: Mark's World in Literary-Historical Perspective 1996, Fortress Press. p189