Capernaum Called us Town Of Jesus, Peter House & Jewish Synagogue (Mark 1:21-27) (Luke 7:3)(John 6:35-59). The site is located at the north corner of the Sea of Galilee, on the side of the ancient road from Tiberias to the east of the sea of Galilee: Golan, Gamla and Jordan. Capernaum was the center of Jesus activities in the Galilee and his town during that time. Jesus taught in the local synagogue. It was also the home town of the apostles Peter, James, Andrew and John, and the tax collector Matthew. Capernaum was a large Galilean fishing village and busy trading center. This place is of special interest to Christians because of its frequent mention in the Peter, Andrew, James and John also lived here. It played a unique and important part in Christ’s life and ministry, and in his outreach to the people of Israel. The inhabitants of Capernaum, including various high ranking citizens, were given unique and abundant opportunities to hear Jesus Christ’s message firsthand and witness His awesome power and love. The Gennesaret area was one of the most prosperous and crowded districts of Israel. Capernaum lay on the great Via Maris highway between Damascus (Syria) and Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean Sea, and between Tyre and Egypt. Customs taxes were collected from travelers at this crossroads (Matthew 9:9). This was the job of Levi, the tax collector, who became Christ’s disciple and was later named Matthew. Jews criticized Jesus for befriending him and other tax collectors. Caravans stopped at Capernaum to resupply themselves with produce and dried fish. At the lake shore, where Peter and other fishermen worked, archaeologists discovered a fish sales area. After our Lord’s expulsion from Nazareth (Matthew 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-31), Capernaum became his “own city.” It was the scene of many acts and incidents of his life (Matthew 8:5, 14,15; 9:2-6, 10-17; 15:1-20; Mark 1:32-34, etc.). The Bible tells us that a Roman centurion built a synagogue here for the Jews (Luke 7:1-5). His servant was later healed from severe palsy by Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). The remains of what must have been a beautiful basalt synagogue has been discovered by archaeologists. As expected for such a sacred building, it was found at the highest point in town. This is the synagogue where our Lord frequently taught (John 6:59; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33). Here, Jesus cured a demon possessed man (Mark 1:21-28) and delivered the sermon on the bread of life (John 6:25-59). He even restored the life of the daughter of one rulers of this synagogue (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Only a few hundred feet from the synagogue, the stone house of the disciple Peter has also been found at Capernaum. This is where Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and others (Matthew 8:14-16). Jesus may have lived with Peter while staying in Capernaum. In the years following Jesus' death and resurrection, the house apparently became a house-church. Centuries later, Christians honored the site by building a church here. It was destroyed in a later conquest of the city. Archaeologists have excavated both the church and the earlier house below. Stanislao Loffreda reported, Mary, the mother of Jesus, made her way to Capernaum with her other sons (Matthew 12:46, 48-49). It was here that Christ uttered the memorable words, “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!” Cast evil spirit from a man in the local synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:33-36) and the demon confessed “I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” (Luke 4:34) Simon’s mother-in-law instantly healed on the Sabbath of a serious fever and then she immediately helped serve Simon’s guests (Luke 4:38-39) All the sick of Capernaum came to Simon’s house after the end of Sabbath (sunset), and all were healed by Jesus (Luke 4:40-41), as “all the city was gathered together at the door” (Mark 1:29-34) Demons cast out of of many people, and the devils confessed that Christ is the Son of God (Luke 4:41) Dead daughter of Jairus raised (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41) Paralyzed man let down through the roof and instantly fully healed (Mark 2:1-12) Jesus caused four of disciples to catch fish in a miraculous way (Luke 5:1-11) Through a fish, Jesus supplied tribute tax money needed by Peter (Matthew 17:24-27) Healing of the centurion’s servant afflicted with palsy (Matthew 8:5-13) Healing of the son of a nobleman in the King’s court (Herod Antipas) (John 4:46-54) Despite the unique number of evidences our Lord presented to them, most of the people of Capernaum lacked faith in Him and remained unrepentant disbelievers. Because they turned so strongly away from the uniquely gracious light given, they were strongly judged. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…” (Luke 12:48). Thus, along with nearby Chorazin and Bethsaida, Capernaum received a very stern warning from Jesus (Matthew 11:21-24).
