Capernaum

City / town · Modern: Kfar Nahum, Israel · Galilee

A fishing town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee that became the base of Jesus's Galilean ministry — Matthew calls it 'his own city'. Peter's house stood here, Matthew was called from his tax booth here, and many healings and teachings took place in and around its synagogue; yet Jesus pronounced judgement on it for unbelief (Matthew 4:13; 9:9; 11:23).

Where in scripture

Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Matthew 4:13 — cited in the description of Capernaum

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 4:13

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleThe lakeside town that became the base of Jesus's Galilean ministry, and home to Peter.

Matthew 4:13; Mark 2:1

↳ Jesus of Nazareth · Simon Peter

Berthold Werner — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyIts white limestone synagogue (built over a 1st-century basalt one) and the octagonal church over a venerated house of Peter are both preserved.

Capernaum (Tell Hum) Franciscan excavations (V. Corbo & S. Loffreda, from 1968); 4th-5th c. white limestone synagogue over 1st-century basalt foundations; octagonal Byzantine church over the 'insula sacra' venerated as the House of Peter (S. Loffreda, 'Recovering Capharnaum', Franciscan Printing Press, 1985).