A person who brought sacrifices and prayers to God for all the people. In Israel, a priest had to be from the tribe of Levi.

Roman military governor. Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea.

Special seat in a theater.

Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:7). Also is referred to as heaven.

A person God has chosen to bring his message to the people.

Entrance gate to sacred enclosure.

Administrative building in a city, dedicated to Hestia.

Means "song." In the Bible, God's people used psalms to (1) praise God, (2) cry out for help during trouble, and (3) thank God. The people also sang the psalms when they were together to worship God.

Dipteral temple without inner row of columns.

Descendants of Ptolemy I (one of the generals of Alexander the Great) who ruled over Egypt from 323 BC until 198 BC. Israel was under their control during this time. Generally, they were benevolent rulers, though they sought to spread the influence of Hellenism among the Jews.

A small community near the northern end of the Dead Sea, inhabited from 130 BC to AD 70, probably by the Essenes. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found near this settlement.

A teacher or master. In Jesus' day, a student would give up his entire life in order to be with his teacher. The disciple didn't only seek to know what the teacher knew, as is usually the case today. It was not enough just to know what the rabbi said, but the foremost goal of any talmid was to become like the rabbi and do what the rabbi did.

Jewish religious practice after the Temple was destroyed (AD 70) that centered around the Torah and its interpretation by the rabbis.

To gather crop at harvest time. Reap can also refer to wat will happen to someone as a result of their own actions.

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To bring peace between two people who have been enemies. The world sinned and was hostile toward God. Then God sent Jesus to reconcile the world to God.

Eating area in communal living.

A hint; referring to a rabbinic teaching technique in which a rabbi would hint at a meaning without actually coming out and saying it. Example: Jesus saying that the sellers and money changers had made the Temple a "den of robbers," referring to the Jeremiah 7 passage in which Jeremiah berates religious leaders for their idolatry and false religion.

One of the largest masonry arches (75 feet tall, more than 45 feet across) in the ancient world; supported a massive staircase that ran from the Tyropean Valley and the Lower City to the Royal Stoa (the place of buying and selling, the location of the temple treasury); destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.

Authority given to a rabbi to proclaim his own interpretation of Torah, rather than simply referring to what other rabbis had said. The crowds were amazed at Jesus' teaching, because he taught like one who had "s'mikheh" (Matt. 7:28%u201429).

Means "righteous ones." Wealthy Jewish aristocracy, claiming descent and authority from the high priest Zadok. Oversaw Temple; theology based on the first five books of the Bible; did not believe that God interfered in human lives or in any afterlife. Notoriously corrupt; disliked by the common people; helped to preserve their own political power and wealth by collaborating with the Romans. As the majority of the 70-man religious council (Sanhedrin), they wielded great authority over the nation's everyday affairs. Had the most to lose by Jesus' ministry, as he challenged the temple authority. Many scholars believe the Sadduccees were responsible for plotting to kill Jesus%u2014having him arrested, interrogated, and then released to the Romans.

Name of a city and a region, The city was founded by Omri, king of Israel c.a. 880 BC, and Ahab built a magnificent palace there. Samaria became a center for Baal worship. It was destroyed by the Assyrians in 722 BC. During Jesus' time, it was a district of Israel.

Northern part of the central mountain range in Israel.

A person from the country of Samaria (part of Palestine). The Samaritans were hated by the Jews because they had married non-Jews. They also worshiped God differently from the Jews. But Jesus showed his love for the Samaritans by going to them and teaching them about the kingdom of God.

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Means "council." Jewish supreme court; highest religious council, composed of 70 members and the high priest. The number 70 traditionally was based on Moses' appointment of 70 elders (Num. 11:16) to administer Israel's affairs. Used by the Romans to administer daily affairs. Predominantly Sadducee's, the religious faction most threatened by Jesus' ministry, who plotted against, interrogated, and released him to the Romans.