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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"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring towns. When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. read more. When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus told them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat." They told him, "We don't have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish." He said, "Bring them to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. Jesus immediately had the disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him, while he sent the crowds away.
He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat. So they went away in a boat to a deserted place by themselves. read more. But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" He asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see." They found out and told him, "Five loaves and two fish." Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves. Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a 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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When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus told them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat." read more. They told him, "We don't have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish." He said, "Bring them to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida.
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like 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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"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away. After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray.
After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray. When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, while he was alone on the land.
When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, while he was alone on the land. He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them,
He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them, but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream.
but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and began to scream. All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, "Have courage! It's me. Stop being afraid!"
All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, "Have courage! It's me. Stop being afraid!" Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded,
Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were utterly astounded, because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came ashore at Gennesaret and anchored the boat.
When they had crossed over, they came ashore at Gennesaret and anchored the boat.
Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. The Pharisees arrived and began arguing with Jesus. They tested him by demanding from him a sign from heaven.
The Pharisees arrived and began arguing with Jesus. They tested him by demanding from him a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply in his spirit and remarked, "Why do those living today demand a sign? I tell all of you with certainty, no sign will be given to this generation."
He sighed deeply in his spirit and remarked, "Why do those living today demand a sign? I tell all of you with certainty, no sign will be given to this generation." Leaving them, he got into a boat again and crossed to the other side.
Leaving them, he got into a boat again and crossed to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread along, but they had one loaf with them in the boat.
Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread along, but they had one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus had been warning them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!"
Jesus had been warning them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!" So they were discussing with one another the fact that they didn't have any bread.
So they were discussing with one another the fact that they didn't have any bread. Knowing this, Jesus asked them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you don't have any bread? Don't you understand or perceive yet? Are your hearts hardened?
Knowing this, Jesus asked them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you don't have any bread? Don't you understand or perceive yet? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, but fail to see? Do you have ears, but fail to hear? Don't you remember?
Do you have eyes, but fail to see? Do you have ears, but fail to hear? Don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve."
When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve." "When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?" They told him, "Seven."
"When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?" They told him, "Seven." Then he asked them, "Don't you understand yet?"
Then he asked them, "Don't you understand yet?" As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them,
Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them, and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.
and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida.
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing.
But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place."
As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place." But he told them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish unless we go and buy food for all these people."
But he told them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish unless we go and buy food for all these people." Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50."
Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50." They did this and got all of them seated.
They did this and got all of them seated. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd. All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.
All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like 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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"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida.
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like 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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"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring towns. When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. read more. When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus told them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat." They told him, "We don't have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish." He said, "Bring them to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.
He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat. So they went away in a boat to a deserted place by themselves. read more. But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" He asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see." They found out and told him, "Five loaves and two fish." Then he ordered them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the loaves. Jesus immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away.
As they came to Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him.
The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing. read more. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place." But he told them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish unless we go and buy food for all these people." Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50." They did this and got all of them seated. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd. All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.
"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, to Tiberias). A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. read more. But Jesus went up on a hillside and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?" Jesus said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread isn't enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter's brother, told him, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed as much fish as they wanted. When they were completely satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, "Collect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted." So they collected and filled twelve baskets full of pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they kept saying, "Truly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!"
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like 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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After saying goodbye to them, he went up on a hillside to pray.
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like 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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They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."