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Understanding The New Testament_Page_34-M_0
PAUL’S 1ST & 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

The church in Antioch had a true international flavor and its leadership, hailing from lands across the eastern
Mediterranean, chose Saul of Tarsus (now known as Paul the Apostle), Barnabas and John Mark to carry the
Gospel into the Roman world (Acts 13:1–3). Paul’s first missionary journey took him and his companions initially
to Cyprus, the homeland of Barnabas.

Galilee
AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE

The first Apostles were fishermen; sometimes Jesus taught while standing in a boat, with the crowds listening on the shore. The Sermon on the Mount was delivered according to tradition near Capernaum (Matthew 8:1, 8:5); the site is said to be located on the height just behind Capernaum. Only occasionally did Jesus upbraid the cities that refused to repent — “Woe to you Chorazin, woe to you Bethsaida, Capernaum shall be brought down to Hades” — (Matthew 11:21-23; Luke 10:13-15).

Jesus-Ministery
JESUS’ INITIAL GALILEAN MINISTRY

Jesus began his ministry when he was about thirty years old (Lk 3:23), and most interpreters reconstruct a three-year ministry based on the number of Passover festivals mentioned in the Gospel of John (John 2:13, 6:4, 11:55).

Sacred Flowers_Page3
“BLESSED HYSSOP”

The hyssop shrub is not a thorn plant, so why is it included here? The answer lies in the episode of Jesus quenching his thirst on the cross with a sponge soaked in vinegar, and its connection with the “sacred herb.” In the spring, the hyssop’s flowers and small hairy leaves become sponge-like and able to absorb liquid. This feature connects this shrub to two passages in the Bible where hyssop is used as an absorbent for liquids. One of them is a passage in the Book of Exodus where it is described as the means of smearing blood on the doorposts of houses.

Sea_of_Galilee_from_Gamla
THE LAND OF JESUS

Understanding the land of Jesus is a necessary component to comprehending the message he proclaimed. From the beginning of the four Gospels until their end, the Evangelists assume that we possess an intimate knowledge of the historical and geographical stage onto which Jesus stepped. For most Christian readers this is unfortunately not true. Many have not had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land. Even for those who have, it can prove to be a confusing experience. Much about life in this land has changed…