Reference: Bethsaida
American
Place of fishing, 1. A city in Galilee, on the western shore of the lake of Gennesareth, a little north of Capernaum; it was the birthplace of the apostles Philip, Andrew, and Peter, and was often visited by our Lord, Mt 11:21; Mr 6:45; 8:22.
2. A city in Gaulonitis, north of the same lake, and east of the Jordan. Near this place Christ fed the five thousand. It lay on a gentle hill near the Jordan separated from the sea of Galilee by a plain three miles wide, of surpassing fertility, Lu 9:10. Compare Mt 14:13-22; Mr 6:31-45. This town was enlarged by Philip, tetrarch of that region, Lu 3:1, and called Julias in honor of Julia, the daughter of Augustus. It is now little but ruins.
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Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon had been the powers being in you, long since had they repented in sackcloth and ashes.
And Jesus having heard, withdrew from thence into a desert place apart: and the crowds, having heard, followed him on foot from the cities. And Jesus having come, saw a great crowd: and he felt compassion for them, and he cured their sick. read more. And being evening, his disciples came to him, saying, It is a desert place, and the time has passed already; loose the crowds, that, having gone into towns, they might purchase food for themselves. But Jesus said to them, They have no need to depart; give ye them to eat. And they say to him, We have not here but five loaves, and two fishes. And he said, Bring them here to me. And having encouraged the crowds to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves, and two fishes, and having looked up to heaven, he praised; and having broken, gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. And they all ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the remaining of fragments, twelve baskets full. And they eating were five thousand men, besides women and children. And quickly Jesus constrained his disciples to go into the ship, and to go before him to the other side, till he should loose the crowds.
And he said to them, Come ye yourselves apart to a desert place, and rest a little: for many were coming and returning, and neither had they leisure to eat. And they departed to a desert place by ship apart. read more. And the crowds saw them retiring, and many knew him, and they were running there on foot from all cities, and came before them, and came together to him. And Jesus, having come out, saw a great crowd, and felt compassion for them, for they were as sheep having not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And having been already much time, his disciples, having come to him, say, This is a desert place, and already the time much: Loose them, that having departed to the fields and towns round about, they might buy to themselves loaves: for they have nothing they might eat. And having answered, he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they say to him, Having gone, should we buy loaves of two hundred drachmas, and give them to eat? And he says to them, How many loaves have ye? retire and see. And having known, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them all to recline a drinking together, drinking together upon the green grass. And the borders, the borders reclined, by one hundred, and by fifty. And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, he praised, and he brake the loaves, and gave to his disciples that they might set before them; and the two fishes he divided to all. And they all ate, and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of fishes. And they eating the loaves were about five thousand men. And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
Now in the fifteenth year of the supremacy of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being leader of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother being tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida.
Easton
house of fish.
(1.) A town in Galilee, on the west side of the sea of Tiberias, in the "land of Gennesaret." It was the native place of Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and was frequently resorted to by Jesus (Mr 6:45; Joh 1:44; 12:21). It is supposed to have been at the modern 'Ain Tabighah, a bay to the north of Gennesaret.
(2.) A city near which Christ fed 5,000 (Lu 9:10; comp. Joh 6:17; Mt 14:15-21), and where the blind man had his sight restored (Mr 8:22), on the east side of the lake, two miles up the Jordan. It stood within the region of Gaulonitis, and was enlarged by Philip the tetrarch, who called it "Julias," after the emperor's daughter. Or, as some have supposed, there may have been but one Bethsaida built on both sides of the lake, near where the Jordan enters it. Now the ruins et-Tel.
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And being evening, his disciples came to him, saying, It is a desert place, and the time has passed already; loose the crowds, that, having gone into towns, they might purchase food for themselves. But Jesus said to them, They have no need to depart; give ye them to eat. read more. And they say to him, We have not here but five loaves, and two fishes. And he said, Bring them here to me. And having encouraged the crowds to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves, and two fishes, and having looked up to heaven, he praised; and having broken, gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. And they all ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the remaining of fragments, twelve baskets full. And they eating were five thousand men, besides women and children.
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida.
And having entered into a ship, they came beyond the sea to Capernaum. And already was there darkness, and Jesus had not come to them.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Fausets
("house of fish".) A city of Galilee, W. of and close to the sea of Tiberias, in the land of Gennesareth (Mr 6:45-53; Joh 6:16-17; 1:44; 12:21). Andrew, Peter, and Philip belonged to it, Near Capernaum and Chorazin (Mt 11:21; Lu 10:13). When Jesus fed the 5,000 on the N.E. of the lake, they entered into a boat to cross to Bethsaida (Mr 6:45), while John says" they went over the sea toward Capernaum." Being driven out of their course, Jesus came to them walking on the sea; they landed in Gennesaret and went to Capernaum; so that Bethsaida must have been near Capernaum.
In Lu 9:10-17 another Bethsaida, at the scene of feeding the 5,000, is mentioned (though the Curetonian Syriac and later Sinaitic omit it), which must have been therefore N.E. of the lake; the same as Julias, called from the emperor's daughter Julia. The miracle was wrought in a lonely "desert place," on a rising ground at the back of the town, covered with much "green grass" (Mr 6:39). In Mr 8:10-22 a Bethsaida on the E. side of the lake in Gaulonitis (now Jaulan) is alluded to; for Jesus passed by ship from Dalmanutha on the W. side "to the other side," i.e. to the E. side. Thus, Caesarea Philippi is mentioned presently after, Bethsaida being on the road to it; and the mount of the transfiguration, part of the Hermon range, above the source of the Jordan (Mr 9:2-3); the snow of Hermon suggested the image, "His raiment became white as snow."
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Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon had been the powers being in you, long since had they repented in sackcloth and ashes.
Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon had been the powers being in you, long since had they repented in sackcloth and ashes.
And he commanded them all to recline a drinking together, drinking together upon the green grass.
And he commanded them all to recline a drinking together, drinking together upon the green grass.
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd: And having dismissed them, he went away to the mount to pray.
And having dismissed them, he went away to the mount to pray. And evening having come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone upon land.
And evening having come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone upon land. And he saw them trying to urge forward, for the wind was contrary to them: and about the fourth watch of the night he comes to them walking upon the sea, and he would pass by them.
And he saw them trying to urge forward, for the wind was contrary to them: and about the fourth watch of the night he comes to them walking upon the sea, and he would pass by them. And having seen him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and cried out:
And having seen him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and cried out: For all saw him, and were troubled. And quickly he spake with them, and says to them, Take courage: I am; be not afraid.
For all saw him, and were troubled. And quickly he spake with them, and says to them, Take courage: I am; be not afraid. And he went up to them to the ship; and the wind ceased, and they were greatly affected in mind above measure and wondered.
And he went up to them to the ship; and the wind ceased, and they were greatly affected in mind above measure and wondered. For they understood not the loaves; for their heart was hardened.
For they understood not the loaves; for their heart was hardened. And having passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret, and put into a harbor.
And having passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret, and put into a harbor.
And quickly having gone into the ship with his disciples, he came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
And quickly having gone into the ship with his disciples, he came into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came out, and began to search out with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
And the Pharisees came out, and began to search out with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And having sighed deeply in spirit, he says, Why seeks this generation for a sign Verily I say to you, shall a sign be given to this generation.
And having sighed deeply in spirit, he says, Why seeks this generation for a sign Verily I say to you, shall a sign be given to this generation. And having let them go, having gone again into the ship, he departed beyond.
And having let them go, having gone again into the ship, he departed beyond. And they forgot to take loaves, and had not but one loaf with them in the ship.
And they forgot to take loaves, and had not but one loaf with them in the ship. And he enjoined them, saying, See ye, look away from the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.
And he enjoined them, saying, See ye, look away from the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned with one another, saying, Because we have no loaves.
And they reasoned with one another, saying, Because we have no loaves. And Jesus having known, says to them, Why reason ye with yourselves, because ye have no loaves? observe ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
And Jesus having known, says to them, Why reason ye with yourselves, because ye have no loaves? observe ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and remember ye not?
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and remember ye not? When I brake the five loaves to five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say to him, Twelve.
When I brake the five loaves to five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say to him, Twelve. And when the seven to four thousand, the fillings of how many baskets of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
And when the seven to four thousand, the fillings of how many baskets of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said to them, How do ye not understand
And he said to them, How do ye not understand And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
And after six days Jesus takes Peter, and James, and John, and brings them up into a high mountain apart alone: and he was transformed before them.
And after six days Jesus takes Peter, and James, and John, and brings them up into a high mountain apart alone: and he was transformed before them. And his garments were shining, exceeding white, such as no fuller on earth can make white.
And his garments were shining, exceeding white, such as no fuller on earth can make white.
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida.
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida. And the crowds having known, followed him: and having received them, he spake to them, of the kingdom of God, and healed them having need of cure.
And the crowds having known, followed him: and having received them, he spake to them, of the kingdom of God, and healed them having need of cure. And the day began to decline: and the twelve having come near, said to him, Loose the crowd, that having departed into the towns round about and the fields, they might rest, and might find provisions; for here are we in a deserted place.
And the day began to decline: and the twelve having come near, said to him, Loose the crowd, that having departed into the towns round about and the fields, they might rest, and might find provisions; for here are we in a deserted place. And he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, There are no more to us than five loaves and two fishes; except having gone we buy food for all this people.
And he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, There are no more to us than five loaves and two fishes; except having gone we buy food for all this people. For they were about five thou sand men. And he said to his disciples, Place them reclining by fifty in a place for reposing.
For they were about five thou sand men. And he said to his disciples, Place them reclining by fifty in a place for reposing. And they did so, and they made all recline.
And they did so, and they made all recline. And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, be praised them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd.
And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, be praised them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate, and were satisfied: and that over and above having remained to them was taken up, twelve baskets of fragments.
And they all ate, and were satisfied: and that over and above having remained to them was taken up, twelve baskets of fragments.
Woe to thee Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon were the powers having been in you, long since had they changed the mind, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Woe to thee Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon were the powers having been in you, long since had they changed the mind, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
And when it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea.
And when it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea. And having entered into a ship, they came beyond the sea to Capernaum. And already was there darkness, and Jesus had not come to them.
And having entered into a ship, they came beyond the sea to Capernaum. And already was there darkness, and Jesus had not come to them.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Hastings
A place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, whither Christ went after feeding the five thousand (Mr 6:45, cf. Lu 9:10), and where He healed a blind man (Mr 8:22); the home of Philip, Andrew, and Peter (Joh 1:44; 12:21). It was denounced by Christ for unbelief (Mt 11:21; Lu 10:13). The town was advanced by Philip the tetrarch from a village to the dignity of a city, and named Julias, in honour of C
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Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon had been the powers being in you, long since had they repented in sackcloth and ashes.
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida.
Woe to thee Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon were the powers having been in you, long since had they changed the mind, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Morish
Bethsa'ida
This name signifies 'house of fish.'
1. BETHSAIDA OF GALILEE, a town from whence came Philip, Andrew, and Peter, Joh 1:44; 12:21; and against which the Lord pronounced a 'woe' because it had not repented at His mighty works. Mt 11:21; Lu 10:13. After the Lord had fed the 5,000 on the east of Jordan He sent His disciples to Bethsaida on the western shore. Mr 6:45. It was near the shore on the west of the Sea of Galilee, in the same locality as Capernaum and Chorazin: there are ruins in the district, but its exact situation cannot be identified.
2. BETHSAIDA JULIAS, a town near the N.E. corner of the same lake. A blind man was cured there, Mr 8:22; and near to it the 5,000 were fed, Lu 9:10-17: also related in Mt 14:13-21; Mr 6:31-44; Joh 6:1-14. It was called 'Julias,' because Philip the tetrarch enlarged the town, giving it the above name in honour of Julia, daughter of Augustus. It is identified by some with et Tell, 32 54' N, 35 37' E. A few rude houses and heaps of stones are all that mark the spot. (The context of the above passages shows that the events recorded could not have taken place at or near the Bethsaida on the west of the lake.)
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Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon had been the powers being in you, long since had they repented in sackcloth and ashes.
And Jesus having heard, withdrew from thence into a desert place apart: and the crowds, having heard, followed him on foot from the cities. And Jesus having come, saw a great crowd: and he felt compassion for them, and he cured their sick. read more. And being evening, his disciples came to him, saying, It is a desert place, and the time has passed already; loose the crowds, that, having gone into towns, they might purchase food for themselves. But Jesus said to them, They have no need to depart; give ye them to eat. And they say to him, We have not here but five loaves, and two fishes. And he said, Bring them here to me. And having encouraged the crowds to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves, and two fishes, and having looked up to heaven, he praised; and having broken, gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. And they all ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the remaining of fragments, twelve baskets full. And they eating were five thousand men, besides women and children.
And he said to them, Come ye yourselves apart to a desert place, and rest a little: for many were coming and returning, and neither had they leisure to eat. And they departed to a desert place by ship apart. read more. And the crowds saw them retiring, and many knew him, and they were running there on foot from all cities, and came before them, and came together to him. And Jesus, having come out, saw a great crowd, and felt compassion for them, for they were as sheep having not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And having been already much time, his disciples, having come to him, say, This is a desert place, and already the time much: Loose them, that having departed to the fields and towns round about, they might buy to themselves loaves: for they have nothing they might eat. And having answered, he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they say to him, Having gone, should we buy loaves of two hundred drachmas, and give them to eat? And he says to them, How many loaves have ye? retire and see. And having known, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them all to recline a drinking together, drinking together upon the green grass. And the borders, the borders reclined, by one hundred, and by fifty. And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, he praised, and he brake the loaves, and gave to his disciples that they might set before them; and the two fishes he divided to all. And they all ate, and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of fishes. And they eating the loaves were about five thousand men. And quickly he constrained his disciples to go to the ship, and to lead before to the other side of Bethsaida, till he loose the crowd:
And he comes to Bethsaida; and they bring to him one blind, and beseech him that he would touch him.
And the sent, having returned, recounted to him what they did. And having taken them, he retreated apart in a desert place of the city, called Bethsaida. And the crowds having known, followed him: and having received them, he spake to them, of the kingdom of God, and healed them having need of cure. read more. And the day began to decline: and the twelve having come near, said to him, Loose the crowd, that having departed into the towns round about and the fields, they might rest, and might find provisions; for here are we in a deserted place. And he said to them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, There are no more to us than five loaves and two fishes; except having gone we buy food for all this people. For they were about five thou sand men. And he said to his disciples, Place them reclining by fifty in a place for reposing. And they did so, and they made all recline. And having taken the five loaves and two fishes, having looked up to heaven, be praised them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate, and were satisfied: and that over and above having remained to them was taken up, twelve baskets of fragments.
Woe to thee Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if in Tyre and Sidon were the powers having been in you, long since had they changed the mind, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
After these Jesus departed beyond the sea of Galilee, of Tiberias. And a great crowd followed him, for they saw his signs which he did upon the sick. read more. And Jesus went up into the mount, and sat there with his disciples. And the pascha was near, the festival of the Jews. Then Jesus having lifted up the eyes, and seen that a great crowd comes to him, says to Philip, Whence shall we buy loaves that these might eat? And this he said trying him: for himself knew what he was about to do. Philip answered him. Loaves of two hundred drachmas will not suffice them, that each of them should take some little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, says to him, There is one little boy here, who has five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are these among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men recline. And there was much grass in the place. Then the men reclined, the number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, distributed to his disciples, and the disciples to the reclining; and likewise of the small fishes, as many as they wished. And when they were filled, he says to his disciples, Gather the fragments remaining over, that nothing should be lost. Then gathered they, and filled twelve baskets of the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over to them having eaten. Then the men, having seen the sign which Jesus did, said, That this is truly the prophet coming into the world.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Smith
Bethsa'ida
(house of fish) of Galilee,
Joh 12:21
a city which was the native place of Andrew, Peter and Philip,
Joh 1:44; 12:21
in the land of Gennesareth,
comp. Mark 6:53 and therefore on the west side of the lake. By comparing the narratives in
and Luke 9:10-17 it appears certain that the Bethsaida at which the five thousand were fed must have been a second place of the same name on the east of the lake. (But in reality "there is but one Bethsaida, that known on our maps at Bethsaida Julias." L. Abbot in Biblical and Oriental Journal. The fact is that Bethsaida was a village on both sides of the Jordan as it enters the sea of Galilee on the north, so that the western part of the village was in Galilee and the eastern portion in Gaulonitis, part of the tetrarchy of Philip. This eastern portion was built up into a beautiful city by Herod Philip, and named by him Bethsaida Julias, after Julia the daughter of the Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar. On the plain of Butaiha, a mile or two to the east, the five thousand were fed. The western part of the town remained a small village.--ED.)
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And having dismissed them, he went away to the mount to pray.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.
Watsons
BETHSAIDA, a city whose name in Hebrew imports a place of fishing or of hunting, and for both of these exercises it was well situated. As it belonged to the tribe of Naphtali, it was in a country remarkable for plenty of deer; and as it lay on the north end of the lake Gennesareth, just where the river Jordan runs into it, it became the residence of fishermen. Three of the Apostles, Philip, Andrew, and Peter, were born in this city. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament, though it frequently occurs in the New: the reason is, that it was but a village, as Josephus tells us, till Philip the tetrarch enlarged it, making it a magnificent city, and gave it the name of Julias, out of respect to Julia, the daughter of Augustus Caesar.
The evangelists speak of Bethsaida; and yet it then possessed that name no longer: it was enlarged and beautified nearly at the same time as Caesarea, and called Julias. Thus was it called in the days of our Lord, and so would the sacred historians have been accustomed to call it. But if they knew nothing of this, what shall we say of their age? In other respects they evince the most accurate knowledge of the circumstances of the time. The solution is, that, though Philip had exalted it to the rank of a city, to which he gave the name of Julias, yet, not long afterward, this Julia, in whose honour the city received its name, was banished from the country by her own father. The deeply wounded honour of Augustus was even anxious that the world might forget that she was his daughter. Tiberius, whose wife she had been, consigned the unfortunate princess, after the death of Augustus, to the most abject poverty, under which she sank without assistance. Thus adulation must under two reigns have suppressed a name, from which otherwise the city might have wished to derive benefit to itself; and for some time it was called by its ancient name Bethsaida instead of Julias. At a later period this name again came into circulation, and appears in the catalogue of Jewish cities by Pliny. By such incidents, which are so easily overlooked, and the knowledge of which is afterward lost, do those who are really acquainted with an age disclose their authenticity. "But it is strange," some one will say, "that John reckons this Bethsaida, or Julias, where he was born, in Galilee, Joh 12:21. Should he not know to what province his birthplace belonged?" Philip only governed the eastern districts by the sea of Tiberias; but Galilee was the portion of his brother Antipas. Bethsaida or Julias could therefore not have been built by Philip, as the case is; or it did not belong to Galilee, as John alleges. In fact, such an error were sufficient to prove that this Gospel was not written by John. Julias, however, was situated in Gaulonitis, which district was, for deep political reasons, divided from Galilee; but the ordinary language of the time asserted its own opinion, and still reckoned the Gaulonitish province in Galilee. When, therefore, John does the same, he proves, that the peculiarity of those days was not unknown to him; for he expresses himself after the ordinary manner of the period. Thus Josephus informs us of Judas the Gaulonite from Gamala, and also calls him in the following chapters, the Galilean; and then in another work he applies the same expression to him; from whence we may be convinced that the custom of those days paid respect to a more ancient division of the country, and bade defiance, in the present case, to the then existing political geography. Is it possible that historians who, as it is evident from such examples, discover throughout so nice a knowledge of geographical arrangements and local and even temporary circumstances, should have written at a time when the theatre of events was unknown to them, when not only their native country was destroyed, but their nation scattered, and the national existence of the Jews extinguished and extirpated? On the contrary, all this is in proof that they wrote at the very period which they profess, and it also proves the usual antiquity assigned to the Gospels.
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These then came to Philip, him of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Lord, we wish to see Jesus.