Learn About the Holy LandTop Ten New Testament Archeological Sites |
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ARMAGEDDON (Megiddo)
Armageddon - Megiddo ©Gila Yudkin
According to the Book of Revelation, Chapter 16, Armageddon is where the forces of good will finally triumph over the forces of evil.
“They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty….Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
Revelation 16:14, 16
The tel (ancient mount) of Megiddo has been extensively excavated: first by a German expedition (1903 to 1905); then by the University of Chicago (1925 to 1939) and since the 1990s by Tel Aviv University. Megiddo hosts stables and storerooms; pagan temples and an Israelite palace. After a view over the Valley of Armageddon, you’ll exit by exploring the 9th century BC water tunnel.
In 2005 a mosaic from possibly the oldest church in the world was discovered in the nearby Megiddo Prison. It’s not yet open for viewing, but keep in touch with Kenes Christian Tours, and we’ll inform you when it opens to the public.
BETHSAIDA
Bethsaida - 1st century AD street ©Gila Yudkin
Above the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Bethsaida was the hometown of the disciples Peter, Andrew and Philip.
“They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus’.”
Matthew 12:21
Bethsaida is presently being excavated by a consortium of universities, led by the University of Nebraska. A highlight of your tour at Bethsaida will be walking on a short stretch of the original stone pavement from Jesus’ day. You’ll see the ruins of a fisherman’s house and also a wine-grower’s house. It’s an authentic site that hasn’t yet been restored.
If you come in May or June, you can watch the excavators at work and marvel at what they have discovered that day!
CAESAREA MARITIMA
Caesarea Maritima ©Gila Yudkin
Caesarea Maritima was originally built in 20 BC as a port city by Herod the Great and named in honor of his Roman patron, Augustus Caesar.
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.”
Acts 10:1
Tour the theater, hippodrome (for chariot racing), the governor’s palace, the port area and aqueduct, all exposed by archeologists, while you remember Peter, Paul, Pontius Pilate and Cornelius, the Roman centurion.
CAESAREA PHILIPPI
Pan Temple at Caesarea Philippi ©Gila Yudkin
Caesarea Philippi, by the headwaters of the River Jordan, is where Peter made his profession of faith.
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ “
Matthew 16:13
The city’s original name was Paneas, after Pan, the god of the shepherds, muses and nymphs. Climb up to inspect the rock-cut niches once displaying statues of the Greek-Roman gods which were exposed in the 1990s by Israeli archeologists. Caesarea Philippi is a lovely site with gigantic fig trees and little cascading waterfalls most of the year.
CAPERNAUM
Capernaum Synagogue ©Gila Yudkin
Capernaum was the Galilean headquarters of Jesus’ public ministry for one to three years.
“They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, He entered the synagogue and taught.”
Mark 1:21
There are many references in the Gospels to the synagogue at Capernaum, which according to Luke, was built by a Roman centurion. (Luke 7:5) Archeologists have uncovered remains of the first century AD synagogue under the floor of the magnificent white limestone building of the fourth century AD.
At Capernaum Jesus lived in the house of Peter’s mother-in-law which has been located in the center of the ruins of the fourth century AD church. You’ll note that all the houses of Jesus’ day were built of simple black basalt stones with an outdoor staircase leading up to the roof.
CHORAZIN
Seat of Moses at Chorazin ©Gila Yudkin
One of the three cities in Galilee cursed by Jesus, the ruins of Chorazin were most recently excavated in the 1980s.
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Matthew 11:21
Visit the majestic synagogue of Chorazin where the Seat of Moses was found in 1926. Jesus criticized the Pharisees, for they sat on Moses’ Seat, yet they did not practice what they preached. (Matthew 23:2)
HERODIUM
Herodium ©Gila Yudkin
Herod the Great built the palace-fortress of Herodium, southeast of Bethlehem, as a monumental mausoleum for himself.
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.”
Matthew 2:16
Since 1972, Jerusalemite archeologist Ehud Netzer diligently searched among the ruins of Herodium for Herod’s Tomb. In May of 2007 Netzer announced he finally found the royal resting place. It was marked by a marble podium and hundreds of pieces of a smashed sarcophagus, evidence of the widespread Judean hatred of Herod on account of his notorious cruelty.
HULDAH GATE STEPS TO THE TEMPLE
Southern Steps by Huldah Gate ©Gila Yudkin
Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem many times during that final week of the Passover feast. Most often, he would have ascended the Temple courtyard from the southern steps through the Huldah Gate.
“Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.”
Matthew 21:12
Excavations below the southern wall of the Temple Mount were carried on from 1968 to the year 2000. You can now walk on the same steps Jesus did on his way to preach in Solomon’s Porticoes or to protest the practices of the money changers.
POOL OF SILOAM
Pool of Siloam ©Gila Yudkin
A man born blind was able to see once he visited the Pool of Siloam according to the instructions of Jesus.
“He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
John 9:11
In 2005, steps leading down to the Pool of Siloam were accidentally discovered when the sewer pipes were being repaired in the City of David, south of the Old City’s Dung Gate. Today you can see and walk the extent of the original staircase which is about 225 feet wide. Large enough for your entire group to stand at one time!
SEPPHORIS
Mosaic floor at Sepphoris ©Gila Yudkin
A mere 5 miles from Nazareth, Sepphoris was in the midst of a furious building spurt during Jesus’ childhood.
Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
Matthew 13:55
Some scholars suggest that Mary and Joseph settled in Nazareth after their return from Egypt precisely because the frenetic building activity in nearby Sepphoris provided livelihood to artisans such as Joseph. At Sepphoris you will be exposed to the multi-cultural (even pagan) milieu of Jesus and his fellow Galileans.
Kenes Christian Tours will be happy to show you all these New Testament archeological sites on your next pilgrimage to Israel. Be sure to consult the Kenes Christian Tours specialists while writing your itinerary. Kenes Christian Tours chooses guides who are well-versed, articulate, succinct when necessary and ready to adapt to the needs of your group. Kenes guides are fluent in both the Old and New Testament as well as updated on the latest archeological discoveries. They are flexible, enthusiastic and exemplify true Christian spirit. If your group has a special interest in archeology, when you book your tour, ask the Kenes tour operator for recommendations of new archeological sites to include in your itinerary. New biblical archeological discoveries are happening every season! And if your group is interested in joining an archeological dig for a day – let us know! |
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