Capernaum
Where is Capernaum today? An archaeological site on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel, the town Jesus made his home, where Peter's house stood.
- Today
- North shore of the Sea of Galilee (Tell Hum), Israel
- Country
- Israel
- Status
- Archaeological site: ancient synagogue and church over Peter's house
- Identification
- Certain
Capernaum was a fishing town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus left Nazareth he settled here, which is why Matthew calls it his own town. He taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath, healed Peter's mother-in-law, raised up the paralysed man lowered through the roof, and marvelled at the faith of a Roman centurion. He also gave his teaching on the bread of life in the synagogue here. Even so, the town heard Jesus' warning among the cities that did not repent.
Read the chapters
- Matthew 4
- Matthew 8
- Mark 1
The brisk opening of Mark's Gospel — John's call to prepare the way, Jesus' baptism, and the start of his teaching and healing among the crowds.
- Mark 2
- Luke 7
- John 6
Related topics
Related people
- Jesus Christ
- Mary
- Peter
- John the Baptist
- Elizabeth
- Lazarus
- Martha
- Matthew
- Mary Magdalene
- Thomas
- Zacchaeus
- Methuselah
- Seth
- Abel
- Lot
- Rachel
- Zechariah
- John the Apostle
- Philip the Apostle
- Andrew
- Judas Iscariot
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Love
- Bible Verses About Prayer
- Bible Verses of Comfort
- Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
- Bible Verses About Forgiveness
- Bible Verses About Faith
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Salvation
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Money and Contentment
- Bible Verses About Humility
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Loneliness
- Bible Verses About Guidance
- Bible Verses About Joy
- Bible Verses About Healing
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About Mercy
- Bible Verses About Friendship
- Bible Verses About Honesty
Reading plans
- Start with John — 7 Days Through the Life of Jesus
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- Holy Week — The Final Days of Jesus
- Two Weeks in the Parables of Jesus
- Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
- 30 Days with the Gospel — An Introduction to the New Testament
Books
Places in the Bible
Where is Capernaum today?
Capernaum today is the archaeological site of Tell Hum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel, about 15 kilometres north of Tiberias. In the Bible it is the lakeside town where Jesus settled after leaving Nazareth (Matthew 4:13). Visitors see the remains of an impressive white limestone synagogue, a quarter of basalt houses and the modern memorial church built over what tradition calls Peter's house; the nearby red-domed Greek Orthodox monastery is also visited.
Was Peter's house in Capernaum?
The Gospels tell how Jesus came to Peter's house in Capernaum and healed his mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14). Excavations near the synagogue uncovered a house turned into an early meeting place, with an octagonal Byzantine church built over it; tradition regards it as Peter's house. A modern memorial church now rises above the remains.
Does the Capernaum synagogue date from Jesus' time?
The impressive white limestone synagogue seen today dates to the 4th–5th century AD. Beneath it, however, lie the foundations of an earlier building of dark local basalt, which many scholars see as the remains of the synagogue where Jesus taught (Mark 1:21).