After years of excavations near the Sea of Galilee, archaeologists believe they have discovered the long-lost biblical town of Bethsaida. This village is closely linked in the New Testament to several of Jesus' reported miracles, including the Feeding of the 5,000 and the healing of a blind man.
Discovery of Bethsaida
Archaeologists excavating along the banks of the Sea of Galilee think they may have uncovered the settlement of Bethsaida, a fishing community on the northeastern shore. This location served as a pivotal site for Jesus' ministry, providing the backdrop for numerous miracles and healings, such as restoring sight to a blind man.
In the New Testament, Bethsaida is described as the birthplace of apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Following years of extensive fieldwork, archaeologists have reported discoveries linking the site to the biblical town.
Key Findings
- Remains of a Byzantine-era church
- Fragments of a first-century dwelling beneath the church foundations
- Roman-period fishing equipment
- A mosaic inscription referencing Saint Peter as a prominent figure among the apostles
Steven Notley, Academic Director of the El Araj Excavation Project, stated that the evidence has grown increasingly persuasive. He contends that the discoveries collectively identify El-Araj as Bethsaida, a location long disputed among scholars.
Confirmation of the Site
During a lecture at the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC on May 5, Notley explained that years of work at El-Araj, a project that started in 2016, have now essentially confirmed the identification of the site as Bethsaida. Among the most remarkable findings is a house wall dating back to the first century, uncovered beneath the apse of a later church structure.
Notley told EWTN News: "So, we have a first-century house wall under the apse. It doesn't have a plaque on it that says 'Peter slept here,' but from a perspective of archaeology, it doesn't get much better than that."
Additional Evidence
In 2025, a wildfire tore through the region, unexpectedly stripping away dense vegetation and revealing additional stonework, pottery fragments, and buried architectural features. These discoveries lent further weight to the identification of the site.
According to the Gospels, Bethsaida was the location of the miraculous Feeding of the 5,000, the walking on water, and a two-stage healing of a blind man. While Bethsaida is believed to have been situated on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, its precise location has been debated. Since the 19th century, scholars have proposed three main candidates: Messadiye, El-Araj, and et-Tell. Over time, El-Araj and et-Tell have attracted the greatest support, though disagreements persist due to conflicting interpretations of archaeological evidence.
