c. 7 BC – c. AD 27
Birth and Childhood of Jesus
Bethlehem and Nazareth: the birth in the city of David and the childhood in a Galilean village.
2 places to visit
- 4 periods
- 17 places to visit
The New Testament in Israel: in the Footsteps of Jesus
From Bethlehem to Jerusalem by way of Galilee: the places of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, with their archaeology and practical tips for visiting.
Credit: Beko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The New Testament unfolds over a few decades, in a land you can cross in a week. We have divided it into 4 periods that follow the order of the Gospels and then of the Acts of the Apostles, each leading to its places to visit. For the background, start with the Second Temple period, or go back to the Old Testament.
Timeline of the periods
Between the TestamentsThe Second Temple332 BCE – 70 CE
c. AD 27 – 30
The Ministry in Galilee
The baptism in the Jordan, Capernaum, Magdala and the villages of the Sea of Galilee.
8 places to visit
c. AD 30
The Passion in Jerusalem
The last week of Jesus: Mount of Olives, Upper Room, Temple and Holy Sepulchre.
5 places to visit
AD 30 – 70
The Apostles and the Early Church
Pentecost in Jerusalem, Peter in Jaffa, Paul imprisoned at Caesarea.
3 places to visitAll the places on the map
Mount Moriah: Abraham's Test, from the Biblical Story to the Temple Mount
Where tradition places Abraham's test now stands the Temple Mount, one of the holiest sites in Judaism and Islam.
Bethlehem
Church of the Nativity
Page coming soon
Nazareth
Basilica of the Annunciation
Page coming soon
Qasr al-Yahud
The baptism site on the Jordan
Page coming soon
Yardenit (Jordan River)
Baptisms in the Jordan
Page coming soon
Capernaum
Jesus's town by the lake
Page coming soon
Magdala
A first-century synagogue
Page coming soon
Tabgha
The multiplication of the loaves
Page coming soon
Mount of Beatitudes
The Sermon on the Mount
Page coming soon
Mount Tabor
Deborah and the Transfiguration
Page coming soon
Banias (Caesarea Philippi)
“You are Peter”
Page coming soon
Mount of Olives
Gethsemane and the view of the Old City
Page coming soon
Mount Zion
The Upper Room and David's Tomb
Page coming soon
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Crucifixion and tomb according to tradition
Page coming soon
City of David
The kings' Jerusalem and Hezekiah's Tunnel
Page coming soon
Jaffa
The port of Jonah and Peter
Page coming soon
Caesarea Maritima
Herod's harbour city
Page coming soon
Frequently asked questions
What are the main New Testament sites to visit in Israel?
Bethlehem and Nazareth for the birth and childhood of Jesus; the Jordan, Capernaum, Magdala and Tabgha for his ministry in Galilee; the Mount of Olives, the Upper Room and the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem; Jaffa and Caesarea for the Acts of the Apostles.
How many days do you need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus?
Allow 5 to 7 days: 2 days in Galilee, 2 to 3 days in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and one day on the coast (Caesarea, Jaffa).
Do you need a guide to visit the New Testament sites?
No, most sites can be visited freely or with an entrance ticket. A guide is most useful in Jerusalem, where many places lie close together. Wear clothing covering shoulders and knees in churches.
Are the New Testament sites authentic?
Some are supported by archaeology, such as the Magdala synagogue or the Pool of Siloam; others rest on an ancient tradition, often from the 4th century, such as the Grotto of the Nativity or the Holy Sepulchre. Each period page tells the two apart.
What is the difference with the Old Testament?
The Old Testament covers more than a thousand years, from the Patriarchs to the return from exile. The New Testament focuses on the life of Jesus and the beginnings of the Church, in the 1st century. The Second Temple period links the two.