Lost biblical town that was the site of Jesus's miracles discovered

"Archaeologists this month announced they believe El-Araj, a site on the lake's northeastern shore, is the ancient settlement of Bethsaida, the village where the Bible says Jesus healed a blind man and carried out some of his most famous acts of ministry. The conclusion follows years of discoveries that researchers say have dramatically strengthened the case for the site. Among the findings are the remains of a Byzantine church, a first-century house uncovered beneath its foundation, ancient fishing weights and a mosaic inscription referring to St Peter as the 'chief of the apostles and keeper of the keys of heaven.'"

"Speaking in Washington DC on May 5, excavation director Steven Notley said the growing body of evidence has 'essentially confirmed' El-Araj as biblical Bethsaida, a mystery that has puzzled archaeologists and biblical scholars for decades. Among the most significant discoveries was a first-century structure buried beneath the apse, or dome, of the basilica, which researchers say matches an eighth-century account describing a church built over the home of Peter and Andrew. 'So, we have a first-century house wall under the apse,' Notley told EWTN News."

"'It doesn't have a plaque on it that says "Peter slept here,'" Notley told EWTN News. 'but from a perspective of archaeology, it doesn't get much better than that.' According to the Gospels, Bethsaida was the setting for several miracles performed by Jesus during his ministry around the Sea of Galilee. The town is most famously linked to the healing of a blind man, described in the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus restored the man's sight in stages after leading him outside the village."

Archaeologists report that El-Araj, located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, may be the ancient settlement of Bethsaida. The identification is supported by years of excavations and multiple discoveries, including remains of a Byzantine church, a first-century house uncovered beneath the church’s foundation, ancient fishing weights, and a mosaic inscription that refers to St Peter as “chief of the apostles and keeper of the keys of heaven.” Researchers also found a first-century structure buried beneath the basilica’s apse, aligning with an eighth-century account describing a church built over the home of Peter and Andrew. Bethsaida is associated in the Gospels with Jesus healing a blind man and performing other miracles during his ministry.

Read at Mail Online