Biblical Geography

The Ministry of Jesus

Journey · New Testament

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Luke 9:51 · WEBU

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When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

The Gospels' map is small and exact: Galilee's lakeshore for the early ministry, withdrawals to the borders of Tyre, Sidon, Caesarea Philippi and the Decapolis, the annual feasts in Jerusalem, and the final long ascent through Jericho. Nearly every place named can still be walked.

From Nazareth to the lakeshore, through Samaria, up to the feasts, and at last the road up to Jerusalem: the Gospels' geography of three years.

Biblical names
Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Bethsaida, Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem

Identification note. Nearly every Gospel site is securely identified; a few, like Emmaus and Bethany beyond the Jordan, are debated.

The kingdoms were small and the walking was short: Capernaum to Bethsaida is an afternoon. That is why the Gospels can hold so many named places without a single itinerary error; the writers knew the ground.

  • When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
  • The base at Capernaum and the light on Galilee
  • He had to pass through Samaria
  • Up to the feast of Tabernacles
  • On the road up to Jerusalem, and the third passion prediction

What we know

Certain

  • The main Galilean and Judean sites of the ministry are identified beyond serious doubt.

Disputed

  • A handful of sites, Emmaus among them, have competing candidates.