Lives of Scripture
Galilee
The hilly northern region of Israel around the Sea of Galilee, home to Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, and Bethsaida. Though set apart by Joshua as a place of refuge (Joshua 20:7) and later the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, by New Testament times "Galilee of the Gentiles" was viewed by some in Judea as culturally provincial — Nathanael's "can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" reflects the attitude (John 1:46). It was nonetheless where Jesus grew up, was baptized in the nearby Jordan, called His first disciples (mostly Galilean fishermen), and conducted the bulk of His public ministry — teaching, healing, and performing most of His recorded miracles around its lake before His final journey to Jerusalem (Matthew 4:12-17; Isaiah 9:1-2).
The Galileans
Galilee's northern tribes were among the first carried off when Assyria invaded (2 Kings 15:29), and Isaiah spoke of the region as Galilee of the nations, a land in darkness that would see a great light (Isaiah 9:1-2). Matthew sees that promise fulfilled when Jesus began preaching there (Matthew 4:12-17).
By Jesus' day the Galileans were Jews, but people in Judea often looked down on them. Their accent was recognizable; it gave Peter away in the high priest's courtyard (Matthew 26:73; Mark 14:70). The Pharisees told Nicodemus that no prophet comes from Galilee (John 7:52), and at Pentecost the crowd was astonished that men from Galilee were speaking their languages (Acts 2:7). Galilee was ruled by one of Herod the Great's sons, so when Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Him to that ruler (Luke 23:6-7). Galilee also had a name for unrest: Acts 5:37 recalls a revolt led by a Galilean rebel, and Pilate had some Galileans killed while they offered sacrifices. Jesus used that event to warn that they were no worse sinners than anyone else, and that all must repent (Luke 13:1-5).
Yet most of Jesus' disciples were Galileans. Galileans welcomed Him (John 4:45), women from Galilee followed Him to the cross and the tomb (Luke 23:49, 55), and at His ascension the angels addressed the apostles as men of Galilee (Acts 1:11).
References: Joshua 20:7; Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 1:26; John 1:46
People connected to Galilee
- Andrew (M) — a fisherman of this region, among the first Jesus called
Matthew 4:18-20
- Herod Antipas (M) — tetrarch of this region, who imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist
Luke 3:1; Mark 6:14-27
- Herodias (F) — married to the tetrarch of this region, whose rebuke by John she resented
Mark 6:17-19
- James (M) — a fisherman of this region, called by Jesus with his brother John
Matthew 4:21-22
- Joanna (F) — a woman of Herod's household here, who supported Jesus's ministry from her means
Luke 8:3
- John (M) — a fisherman of this region, called by Jesus with his brother James
Matthew 4:21-22
- Judas of Galilee (M) — the rebel of this region recalled by Gamaliel before the council
Acts 5:37
- Matthew (M) — a tax collector of this region, called by Jesus to follow
Mark 2:14
- Nathanael (M) — of Cana in this region, called to Jesus through his friend Philip
John 1:45-49; John 21:2
- Peter (M) — a fisherman of this region, leader among the Twelve
Matthew 4:18
- Philip (M) — of Bethsaida in this region, one of the Twelve
John 1:43-44
- Salome (F) — a woman who followed and provided for Jesus in this region
Mark 15:40-41
- Salome — Herodias's daughter, whose dance in this region cost John the Baptist his head
Mark 6:22-28
- Thomas (M) — one of the Twelve, called during Jesus's ministry in this region
John 21:2
Also named in Scripture at Galilee: Judas (M).