Daily Archives: May 1, 2008

Where in the world?

Posted on May 1, 2008 | Leave a comment

Many of you probably saw the Today Show this morning. This is the week for Matt Lauer’s “Where in the world…” series. We have always enjoyed these programs because they remind us of so many places we have visited on our tours.

This morning Matt was in Istanbul, Turkey. We will be heading there in a few days to begin our Steps of Paul and John tour. There were a few scenes from other places in Turkey, including Ephesus and Cappadocia. We visited Cappadocia last summer on our Ancient Crossroads tour of historical and biblical Turkey. Here is a photo I made during a hot air balloon over the mysterious landscape of Cappadocia. Note the cultivated vineyards in the foreground below our balloon.

Two of the New Testament epistles were addressed to saints living in Cappadocia.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen. (1 Peter 1:1).

All of the places mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1 are located in modern Turkey. It is a fascinating place to visit.

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Posted in Bible Study, New Testament, Travel, Turkey

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The first attempt on the life of Jesus

Posted on May 1, 2008 | Leave a comment

Nazareth is located in the hills of Lower Galilee, where the elevation is about 2000 feet above sea level. These hills lie on the north side of the Valley of Jezreel (Esraelon, or Megiddo).

In this photo some of the buildings of upper Nazareth can be seen to the left. The hill on the right, with the scaring from quarrying, is popularly called the hill of precipitation. If this is correct, and we have no certain evidence, then this would be the the hill spoken of in Luke’s account of Jesus speaking in the synagogue at Nazareth.

And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. (Luke 4:29, ESV)

A synagogue, similar to the one that might have existed in Nazareth during the time of Jesus, has been built at the Nazareth Village. The photo shows the view from the door of the synagogue. The hill of precipitation can be seen. Jesus was brought up in a small town that was located near the heart of all important travel through the land of Israel (Canaan, Palestine).

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Posted in Bible Places, Bible Study, Israel, New Testament

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