Capernaum

After Jesus was rejected in his hometown of Nazareth, where people tried to throw him off a cliff, he relocated to Capernaum. Matthew quotes Isaiah's prophecy about light dawning on the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, the Galilee of the Gentiles. Capernaum's location on trade routes and its diverse population made it strategic for Jesus' mission to reach both Jews and Gentiles.

Jesus prophesied that Capernaum would be brought down to Hades because despite seeing his many miracles, it did not repent. The city gradually declined after the New Testament period. Earthquakes and invasions reduced it to ruins. Today only archaeological remains exist, including a fourth-century synagogue built over the first-century one where Jesus taught, and what tradition identifies as Peter's house. The city's fate stands as a warning about privilege without response.

Archaeological excavations have uncovered what is believed to be Peter's house near the ancient synagogue. The house shows evidence of being modified into a house church in the first century, with inscriptions mentioning Peter. A Byzantine octagonal church was later built over it, indicating early Christians venerated the site. Today a modern church suspended over the ruins allows visitors to view the archaeological remains below.