As the Gospel records narrate the Galilean ministry of Jesus, we read, “Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city” (Matt. 9:1, NASB). The parallel passage in Mark states, “When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home” (Mark 2:1). Clearly “His own city” during the Galilean ministry is not Nazareth, (where Jesus grew up and lived prior to His public teaching), but Capernaum.
The wording of Matthew 4:13 is: “He left Nazareth behind and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali” (CSB). The NASB renders the text, “He came and settled in Capernaum.” The NET Bible reads, “While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea” (also NRS).
In a chapter entitled, “Capernaum: a Strategic Home for the Messiah,” Aubrey Taylor states, “Capernaum, located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, was a busy town along one of the branches of the international road that connected the Jezreel Valley, Phoenicia, and Damascus” (Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels, p. 88).
Much of Jesus’ teaching, and many of His miracles, were done in Capernaum. The synagogue there was the setting of his teaching as recorded in Mark 1:21: “And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching” (ESV).
The imported white limestone material you see here postdates the time of Jesus. But it is built upon the foundation of the 1st century structure, as can be seen here:
Click images for larger view.
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