Bible Word of the Day
Capernaum (A Fishing Town of Galilee)
Meaning
Capernaum was a town on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. It was located in the northwest region of Galilee and the town itself was situated on a major trade route therefore it was an important center for commerce in Galilean region. Capernaum also plays an important role in the Gospel accounts. The Apostle Peter was from Capernaum and it was in this town that he, Andrew and John had a finishing business together. In addition Jesus often rested and used Capernaum as his home base during his Galilean ministry.
It was in Capernaum that Matthew the tax collector was called and it was in Capernaum that Jesus healed the servant of the Roman Centurion who built the Synagogue there. Jesus also performed many miracles in Capernaum, He healed Peter’s mother-in-law, healed the Centurion’s Servant, healed the lame man who could not walk and healed the man with the unclean spirit. Capernaum started as a small village, then under Greek rule during the Hellenistic period (4th-3rd C BC) and was expanded into a town under Roman rule at the time of Jesus.
“Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.'” (Gospel of Matthew 4:11-15)
“Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Let us alone What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God.” (Gospel of Luke 4:31-34)