Capernaum

Capernaum, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, served as the center of Jesus’ ministry in that region (Matthew 9:1-2; Mark 2:1-5). It was an important and bustling fishing and commercial hub, home to both Jews and Gentiles, with a population likely never exceeding 1,000 people in the first century. Capernaum was a nexus for several major trade routes and was surrounded by fertile soil. Roman soldiers even built baths and storage facilities there. Despite Jesus performing many miracles in this place, the people largely rejected the message of the Savior. As a result, Jesus cursed the city: “And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:23-24). Afterward, Capernaum gradually declined and has remained uninhabited ever since.

Capernaum is referred to as Jesus’ “own city” (Matthew 9:1-2; Mark 2:1-5). He performed many miracles here: healing many people (Mark 1:32-34), including a centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10), Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:21, 29-31), a paralytic lowered through a roof on his mat (Mark 2:1-12), and a man with a shriveled hand (Matthew 12:9-13). Jesus also cast out many unclean spirits here (Mark 1:21-28, 32-34), raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43), preached the bread of life in the Capernaum synagogue (John 6:24-59), and instructed Peter to catch a fish in the Sea of Galilee, open its mouth, and find a coin to pay the tax (Matthew 17:24-27). He also called the tax collector Matthew to be a disciple here.

Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version of the Bible and a comprehensive biblical interpretation.