The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

Tiberias

A city in the time of Christ, on the Sea of Galilee; first mentioned in the NT (Jn 6:1,23; 21:1, "Sea of Tiberias"), and then by Josephus, who states that it was built by Herod Antipas and was named by him in honor of the emperor Tiberius, A.D. 14-37.

It was one of nine towns around the sea, each one having not less than 15,000 inhabitants. Because Tiberias was situated on the edge of the ancient walled town Rakkath (Josh. 19:35), or Hammath, whose cemetery lies beneath it, in Jesus' time it was avoided by strict Jews. There is no record of Jesus ever visiting the city. It was noted for its laxness as a hot-water bath resort.

Tiberias was the capital of Galilee from the time of its origin until the reign of Herod Agrippa II, who changed the seat of power back again to Sepphoris, where it had been before the founding of the new city. Many of the inhabitants were Greeks and Romans, and foreign custom prevailed there to such an extent as to give offense to stricter Jews. After the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, Tiberias became a Jewish metropolis and center of rabbinic learning.

After A.D. 150, it was well known as the seat of the Sanhedrin and the rabbinical schools from which came the Talmud and the Masorah. The city lies about twelve miles S of the entrance of the Jordan into the Lake of Galilee and six miles N of the river's exit from the sea. The vicinity is rich in archaeological possibilities, especially the area between the city and the famous hot springs. Masonry of various dates survives, including a synagogue.