Next, travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry. Visit the synagogue on the site where Jesus taught (Matt. 4). The Orthodox church is built in the middle of the ruins of the ancient Roman village of Kfar-Nahum (Capernaum). Around the church the remains of the village have not yet been excavated, unlike the synagogue of Capernaum and the buildings around it. The area under the control of the Orthodox church is 1/3 of the entire ruins, which covers about 60 dunams (6 Hectares). 

The village was established in the Hellenistic period, and was designed according to that period's urban design of straight lines. The village prospered in the Roman and Byzantine periods. It was destroyed in the Persian conquest in the 6th C AD.

Capernaum is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus adopted Capernaum as his hometown and headquarters for his ministry. In his time, it was a border town with a customs station where taxes were collected.

Peter lived in Capernaum and Jesus called Andrew, James, John and Matthew to join him.
Jesus performed many miracles in the town.

Matthew 8:1-27
1: When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 
2: And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 
3: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 
4: And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 
5: And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 
6: And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 
7: And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 
8: The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 
9: For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 
10: When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 
11: And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 
12: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
13: And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 
14: And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 
15: And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 
16: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 
17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. 
18: Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 
19: And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 
20: And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 
21: And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 
22: But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. 
23: And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 
24: And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 
25: And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 
26: And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 
27: But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 

Matthew 9
1: And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 
2: And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 
3: And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 
4: And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 
5: For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 
6: But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 
7: And he arose, and departed to his house. 
8: But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 
9: And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 
10: And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 
11: And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 
12: But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 
13: But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 
14: Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 
15: And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 
16: No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 
17: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. 
18: While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 
19: And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 
20: And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 
21: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 
22: But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 
23: And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 
24: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 
25: But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 
26: And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. 
27: And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 
28: And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 
29: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 
30: And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 
31: But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 
32: As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 
33: And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 
34: But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. 
35: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 
36: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 
37: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 
38: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

Matthew 11:20-30
20: Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 
21: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 
22: But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 
23: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 
24: But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 
25: At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 
26: Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 
27: All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 
28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 
30: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Mark 1:15-39
15: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 
16: Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 
17: And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 
18: And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 
19: And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 
20: And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. 
21: And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 
22: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 
23: And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 
24: Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 
25: And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 
26: And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 
27: And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 
28: And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 
29: And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 
30: But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 
31: And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 
32: And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 
33: And all the city was gathered together at the door. 
34: And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 
35: And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 
36: And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 
37: And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 
38: And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 
39: And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 

Luke 4:31-44
31: And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 
32: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 
33: And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 
34: Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 
35: And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 
36: And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 
37: And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. 
38: And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 
39: And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 
40: Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 
41: And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. 
42: And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 
43: And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 
44: And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. 

Luke 7:1-10
1: Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 
2: And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 
3: And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 
4: And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 
5: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 
6: Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 
7: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 
8: For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 
9: When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 
10: And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. 

John 6:24-71
24: When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 
25: And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 
26: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 
27: Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 
28: Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
29: Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 
30: They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 
31: Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 
32: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 
33: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 
34: Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 
35: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 
36: But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 
37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 
38: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 
39: And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 
40: And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 
41: The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 
42: And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 
43: Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 
44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 
45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 
46: Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 
47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 
48: I am that bread of life. 
49: Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 
50: This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 
51: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 
52: The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 
53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 
54: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 
55: For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
56: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 
57: As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 
58: This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 
59: These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 
60: Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 
61: When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 
62: What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 
63: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 
64: But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 
65: And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 
66: From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 
67: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
68: Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 
69: And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 
70: Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 
71: He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. 

Capernaum - The Calling to Christ

Capernaum was the center of Christ's ministry and the place where he called several of His disciples to Him. Capernaum is a compelling location to consider the calling of and to Christ. As the good shepherd, Christ calls His by name and they are willing to come unto Him as we see in the calling of the apostles.

Matthew 20:1-16
1: For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 
2: And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 
3: And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 
4: And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 
5: Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 
6: And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 
7: They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 
8: So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 
9: And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 
10: But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 
11: And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 
12: Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 
13: But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 
14: Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 
15: Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 
16: So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 

Matthew 11:28
28: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Luke 10:22
22: All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 

Romans 9:11-16
11: (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 
12: It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 
13: As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 
14: What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 
15: For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 
16: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 

I Corinthians 2:10-12
10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 
11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 
12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

Ephesians 2:1
1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

I Corinthians 1:23
23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;