In its upcoming season, Expedition Unknown, a series on Discovery Channel, will explore Israel and ancient Bethsaida. Among the discoveries at Bethsaida is an inscription dedicated to St. Peter, who is also addressed as Peter the Apostle, and is widely regarded by Christians as the first pope. It was found at Beit Habek (el-Araj), which is known as Bethsaida’s old Jewish village, during an archaeological excavation. According to the Gospel of John, Bethsaida was the hometown of three apostles of Jesus: Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Bethsaida is also referenced in other parts of the New Testament as a site where Jesus performed miracles.
The Jerusalem Post reports:
Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown series will cover the land of Israel in its upcoming season, revealing an ancient site believed to be Bethsaida, the birthplace of three of Jesus Christ’s 12 apostles and where Jesus himself supposedly performed miracles.
Included among the findings from Bethsaida is an inscription addressed to St. Peter, also known as Peter the Apostle, who is widely considered by most Christians to be the first pope.
This discovery was made in an archaeological excavation at Beit Habek (el-Araj), identified as the old Jewish village of Bethsaida, the birthplace of three of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.
Bethsaida: A site of miracles in the New Testament
As described in the Gospel of John in the New Testament, Bethsaida was the hometown of three of the apostles, Peter, Andrew and Philip.
Bethsaida is mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament as a place where Jesus performed miracles. The Gospel of Mark describes it as where Jesus restored sight to a blind man. The Gospel of Luke mentions it as the place where Jesus fed 5,000 people.
But what isn’t known about this place is where it is.
Sources have always differed about its exact location, including ancient sources such as Josephus and Pliny the Elder. All, however, say it was somewhere in Israel’s North.
Three locations have traditionally been linked to Bethsaida: Mesadiye, el-Araj and Et-Tell.
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“Included among the findings from Bethsaida is an inscription addressed to St. Peter, also known as Peter the Apostle, who is widely considered by most Christians to be the first pope.” I doubt many Protestants would agree.
That is certainly true.