Peter confesses Jesus to be “the Christ” at Caesarea Philippi

The major sites we visited today included Hazor, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, the Golan Heights, and the Jordan River. Here is a new photo I made at Caesarea Philippi. In the foreground there are broken columns discovered in the excavations at the site. The Banias (or Hermon) River, a major source of the Jordan River,  is hidden by the plants in this photo.

Caesarea Philippi. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

The Caesarea Philippi of the ministry of Jesus is also known as Banias (Matthew 16:13-19).

Caesarea Philippi is located on the eastern side of the Beka or Hula Valley.  The valley is called the Beka in Lebanon, and a little further south the Hula Valley. The elevation is about 1150 feet above sea level in the foothills of Mount Hermon.

Matthew uses the term district or region to describe the area Jesus visited with His disciples (Matthew 16:13). The King James Version coasts is misleading. Mark’s term is villages (Mark 8:27). It was not far from here that Jesus was confessed as the Christ by Peter.

Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”  They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:27-29 NASB; also read Matthew’s account)