Gentiles and Jews

Today we explored the strenuous relationship between Gentiles and Jews during the first century, the time of Jesus, and during the days of the New Testament Church.  We started our day in the ruins of the incredible seaport of Caesarea which King Herod actually created by building walls for the man-made bay.  This was the city where the Gentile Cornelius encountered God through a vision and the preaching and laying of hands by the Jewish Apostle Peter (Acts 10).  This was also the place was Paul was held in prison and took on publicly Festus (Acts 24)

From Caesarea we traveled to Mt. Carmel where Elijah took on the prophets of the false god, Baal.   We shared the story, and right there in front of our eyes, you could see the story lived out as the environment bore witness to many of the stories' detail.  From there we did a quick trip to Megiddo, the fortress city on the other side of the Valley of Jezreel (the plain of Armageddon).

Mary Lou, Fred, and Mary on Mt. Carmel with Valley of Jezreel in the background

Late today we visited Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation which surround the ruins of Mary's home and where Jesus grew up.  The beauty of engravings on marble columns is absolutely astounding.  Most of these remained buried for centuries until recent years when archaeology has uncovered many significant items.

Church of the Annunciation

Tonight we are staying in a hotel on the Sea of Galilee.  Shalom.