Lost Biblical ‘miracle city’ of Jesus '100%' found - and the internet is already arguing over it
Lost Biblical ‘miracle city’ of Jesus '100%' found - and the internet is already arguing over it
The ancient city where Jesus is believed to have performed some of his most impressive miracles has “100%” been found, archaeologists have announced.
According to Fox News, the scientists have uncovered the discovery at the El-Araj Excavation Project where a team has been digging at the site at the Sea of Galilee from 2016 onwards.
They have been searching for over a decade for the lost city of Bethsaida, which according to the Bible was where the apostles Philip, Andrew and Peter once lived, close to Jesus’ main Capernaum ministry.
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Famous miracles said to have been performed at or close to the site include Jesus’ healing of one blind man and his unforgettable feeding of the 5,000 – where he turned just five loaves of bread and two fish into enough food for all these desperately hungry people, according to the Gospels.
Researchers have uncovered an ancient Jewish fishing village, which they have evidence grew into a substantial Roman city. This physical evidence is in keeping with what they would expect from the Bethsaida site, academic director of the project, Steve Notley told Fox News.
Items collected so far include over 200 coins, pottery, a Roman bath house, Jewish stone vessels, lead weights used for fishing, and a Byzantine basilica from a period after Christ which directly references the Apostle Peter.
"The two things that we should be finding if we're excavating that sort of coincide with that identification are a Jewish fishing village which, again, we've found ample evidence of that and evidence of a polis of urbanization," Notley said.
The Biblical scholar and dean of religious studies at Pillar College in New Jersey explained how a wildfire unexpectedly helped the team: "We actually had a wildfire, which at first we thought was tragic," Notley said.
"But it actually cleared the underbrush and allowed us to do an extended survey to determine the size of the settlement. It's at least 15 acres."
Notley now insists he is “100%” sure he has uncovered Bethsaida itself.
"It's accumulation of evidence that you continually find," he said.
"Since 2016, we have not uncovered a single thing that would challenge or question the identification of the site as Bethsaida," Notley added. "Instead, everything we find each season, the evidence gets stronger and stronger and stronger."
The Byzantine basilica referenced Peter as "the Chief of the Apostles and the Keeper of the Keys of Heaven", and a Roman bath house is traditionally linked to the home of Peter and Andrew.
"Of course, for Christians, there are a number of stories from the Gospels about Jesus being present in Bethsaida," Notley said.
"At least one quarter of Jesus' disciples come from Bethsaida. So it's an important site in his life, in his ministry," he added.
"I'm looking forward to what lies ahead," he added.
Commenting on the article, readers lined up to take opposing views on the significance of the find.
6DegOfKevinBacon(2) supported the view the discovery supports Jesus’ miracles as being true, “Esoteric locations and period correct names point to the authenticity of the accounts of Jesus of Nazareth.”
Norfan was more sceptical, “Let me ask a question. If many in this comments section don't believe in the existence of a true God and His Son Jesus, why are they here and commenting in the first place? Is it because they are seeking answers in life, but their own pride will not allow them to admit this reality?”
ChuckNorissed1976 took a different angle, “How about performing miracles like no wars, no evil, no diseases, no natural disasters. If there is a "higher power" than all these bad things should never happen, but, only peace. Make it make sense.”
Topics: Archaeology, Religion, Israel
Michael D. Carroll