Mark 1 (WEB)
A house uncovered at Capernaum is likely to be the house of the apostle Peter, since it is near the synagogue and also the early Christians turned this house into a church in the late first century and early second century A.D.
We're here at Capernaum, the town of Jesus.
In Jesus's early life, obviously he was over the hills in Nazareth, but here by the seashore is where he set his headquarters for his ministry.
This is also a place that Peter's mother-in-law lived, and we have behind us what is viewed as the first century location of where Peter lived, Peter and Andrew his brother.
There are many reasons why people believe this is the site.
We do know that obviously they lived here and had some house.
But an early tradition developed in the late first century, early second century, that this was in fact the place that Peter lived, and a church was established here.
And when you look at the history of the place in the fourth and fifth century, gradually the place built up more and more as a place of special worship and devotion.
There's something else also in the Gospel that may give an indication, and I say may, because we have a vehicle used by Mark in his Gospel to indicate movement.
And that word is a Greek word, euthys, which means immediately.
And so it's used repeatedly in the Gospel of Mark to indicate a motion, because a Gospel talking about a servant…
But in view of the location, of knowing where the synagogue is at Capernaum, and knowing of the tradition regarding this house, notice the text as it reads in Mark chapter 1 verses 29 and following.
Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, which is just maybe 30 meters or so away, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Now if that's so, you can imagine that there is the synagogue and here is the house, and it certainly makes sense to say as soon as they came out, they entered the house.
It's just a few steps away.
So whether we're to understand that's merely a vehicle again, or whether that's an indication of being very close by, someone will have to determine.
I can't be dogmatic about it, but it certainly fits the text.
And in view of the early tradition, going back into the second century, and finally the churches being built on this area, including our modern church that was built just a few years back,
this very well could be the house that Peter actually lived in.
Capernaum… and Jesus would have frequented this place quite a bit.
And in the first and second centuries, an early church met here.
At least they believed it was Peter's house.
So only time will tell.
Maybe more archaeology will give us more indication of it.
1The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in the prophets,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you:
3the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord!
Make his paths straight!’”
4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
12Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.
14Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
16Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
18Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
19Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What can this new doctrine be? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28The report of him went out immediately into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons. 33All the city was gathered together at the door. 34He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. 36Simon and those who were with him searched for him. 37They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.” 39He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” 42When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. 43He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, 44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
45But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.