Bethsaida, lost city of Jesus and apostles, found at Sea of Galilee

Key Points:

• Archaeologists from the El-Araj Excavation Project, led by Mordechai Aviam and Steven Notley, have identified the ancient city of Bethsaida, linked to Jesus Christ's ministry, after a decade of excavations near the Sea of Galilee.
• The site has revealed extensive evidence of a Jewish fishing village and a Roman-era city, including thousands of lead fishing weights, stone vessels, a Roman bathhouse, and a Byzantine basilica with an inscription referencing the Apostle Peter.
• Notley, dean of religious studies at Pillar College, expressed 100% confidence in the identification of El-Araj as Bethsaida, citing the accumulation of consistent archaeological evidence since 2016.
• Bethsaida is significant in Christian history as the hometown of apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and the setting of several miracles performed by Jesus, including the feeding of the 5,000 and the healing of a blind man.
• Despite the discoveries, researchers acknowledge that absolute certainty about specific details, such as Peter's home, is not possible, but the findings strongly support the site's biblical relevance, with further excavations planned.