Nazareth to Capernaum

Jesus based his ministry in Capernaum after he was rejected in Nazareth. This fishing village was located on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. The “sea” is a lake, about 13 miles from north to south and 7 miles east to west in its northern portion. The Capernaum synagogue is the largest to ever be found in Israel from its time period. The synagogue we see today was built about 300 years after Jesus lived. An earthquake destroyed the synagogue Jesus would have known, but the foundation stones of that synagogue are still visible underneath the newer structure. The school beside the worship area is also the largest school found from the time period. Jesus is the only famous rabbi connected with Capernaum, so the sheer size of the synagogue is evidence that people were still coming to his adopted home centuries after he first preached in the area. For more background, see our Gospel of Mark reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app.