Capernaum

Capernaum is about 2.5 miles from where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee on the northwest shore of the lake. It was a busy fishing center, was the home of the local Roman garrison, and was a toll stop on the road from Damascus to the Mediterranean ¹. It is almost universally accepted that Jesus made Capernaum the headquarters of His Galilean ministry. It was also the home of Peter. The text of Matt 4:13 seems to indicate that after the rejection he encountered in his hometown of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30, but not in Matt 4:13), Capernaum became His new hometown, from which he ministered throughout the Galilee (Luke 4:44).

Excavations were conducted at Capernaum several different times, starting in 1838 and going on sporadically until 1982. Among the finds at the site are a large public building, a jetty with a pier on the lakeshore, and several first-century houses of the Roman insulae style.² Perhaps the most interesting finds are the fourth-century synagogue built on top of the foundations of a first-century synagogue and what is widely believed to be Peter’s House nearby.

The Galilean town of Capernaum is widely known to be the place where Jesus lived, and from which he launched his ministry in the Galilee. What is less known is that it was also the location of Peter's house.  East of the synagogue is a group of twelve houses that date to the first century B.C. to the first century A.D. Each of the houses was built of basalt stones, quite common in this area of the Galilee, with floors that were made of beaten earth, very common in this period. Most likely the roofs were covered with tree branches on which was placed straw and mud. A number of kitchen items, such as jars, pans, and cooking pots, as well as lamps, were found.¹ Based on the type of dwellings, it is likely that they belonged to a poor class of laborers.

The largest house among this group is especially important for the New Testament and early Christian history. In this house close to the Sea of Galilee were found fish hooks,² indicating the inhabitant was probably a fisherman. Among items in the house was a Hellenistic and Herodian lamp, almost intact. In the largest room the walls were covered with plaster and decorated, quite different from the other houses in the complex, and also had a floor covered with beaten limestone. Consequently, the archaeologists believe that it is reasonable to conclude that this room was a venerated hall from the first century on, connected to the memory of Peter, the "house of the apostle."³ After the first century the house continued to be considered sacred and a traditional octagonal Byzantine basilica was placed over the house that focused on the aforementioned room. Visitors to Capernaum today will discover a Roman Catholic church covering this house that allows the visitor to clearly look down into the house.⁴

It is almost universally accepted that Jesus made Capernaum the headquarters of His Galilean ministry. It was also the home of Peter. 

Capernaum is about 2.5 miles from where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee on the northwest shore of the lake. It was a busy fishing center, was the home of the local Roman garrison, and was a toll-stop on the road from Damascus to the Mediterranean.¹

Excavations were conducted at Capernaum several different times, starting in 1838 and going on sporadically until 1982. Among the finds at the site are a large public building, a jetty with a pier on the lakeshore, and several first-century houses of the Roman insulae style.² Perhaps the most interesting finds are the fourth-century synagogue built on top of the foundations of a first-century synagogue and what is widely believed to be Peter’s House nearby.