Capernaum

Mom wasn't nearly as interested in recent history as Dennis, so she was glad when we made it to Capernaum, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Five disciples were from this city, including Peter. Jesus did more teaching and miracles here than anywhere else. Yet the the locals rejected him. In Luke 10:15, Jesus says: "And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths."

In Jesus' day, 30,000 to 40,000 people lived here. It was a prosperous city, situated on the Via Maris, the main road from Akko to Antioch. The photo shows a 2nd - 4th century synagogue, very likely on the very site of the older synagogue where Jesus taught.

The city did not rebel against Rome and was not destroyed, as were most cities around 70 A.D. It costs very little to visit this site, but the crowds can be daunting!