Galilee

Galilee (Hebrew galil, “circuit” or “district”) was the northernmost region of Roman-era Palestine, bounded by the Lebanon ranges to the north, the upper Jordan and the Sea of Galilee to the east, the Jezreel (Esdraelon) Valley to the south, and the coastal plain to the west. A land of fertile valleys, wooded hills, and the busy fishing towns ringing its freshwater lake, it was densely populated and agriculturally rich. Because it lay along international trade routes and bordered Gentile lands, Isaiah called it “Galilee of the nations” (Isaiah 9:1), and its people were looked down on by the Judean establishment — Galileans were known by their accent (Matthew 26:73), and it was scoffed, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

Yet Isaiah foretold that on this very region a great light would dawn (Isaiah 9:1-2), a prophecy the Gospel sees fulfilled when Jesus began his public ministry there (Matthew 4:13-16). Galilee was the primary stage of that ministry: he grew up in Nazareth, made Capernaum his base, called his first disciples from among its fishermen (Matthew 4:18-22), turned water to wine at Cana (John 2:11), preached the Sermon on the Mount, stilled the storm on its sea, fed the multitudes, and worked the majority of his miracles in its towns and villages. Much of his recorded teaching was given there.

After the resurrection Galilee again became significant: the angel and the risen Lord directed the disciples to meet him there (Matthew 28:7; Matthew 28:10), and by the Sea of Galilee Jesus restored Peter and recommissioned his followers (John 21:1-17). Though peripheral in the eyes of Jerusalem, Galilee was the cradle of the gospel; the early church there “had peace and was being built up” (Acts 9:31). From this despised northern district — “Galilee of the nations” — the light of Christ went out to all peoples, just as the prophets had promised.