That the World May Know

The City of SardisLocated on Mount Tmolus in southern Turkey, the city of Sardis stood at the crossroads of Asia Minor, the most prosperous, powerful, fertile, and pagan province of the entire Roman Empire. First-century Sardis had a unique blend ...

The Time Had Fully Come

Qumran - The SiteThe wilderness community of Qumran served as home for the Essenes, a Jewish sect existing in Jesus' day.Qumran served as a study site for the Essenes, a Jewish sect existing in Jesus' day. Located at the edge of the Judea Wilderne...

They Left Their Nets Behind

They Left Their Nets BehindBefore Jesus' time, few Israelites were fishermen. There was only one Hebrew word for fish, and it covered everything from minnows to whales. In Jesus' time, a small, flourishing fishing industry developed around the Sea...

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Encyclopedia

The Pilate Stone

While excavating the theater in 1961, archaeologists discovered this stone, which was being used as a step in a small stairway. When they had uncovered it, they found that it was in secondary use.Originally, it had been the dedication stone for a ...

The Temple at En Gedi

En Gedi is one of the oases around the Dead Sea. Sodom and Gomorrah would have looked like this oasis. High on the cliff above En Gedi, archaeologists discovered a pagan temple already old at the time of Abraham and Lot. Sodom and Gomorrah probabl...

The Temple Mount at Jerusalem

God despised the Canaanite high places where pagan worship was carried out. His orders to the Israelites were to destroy them. Yet God communicated with his people through their culture. He allowed them to establish high places where he could meet...

The Theater at Hierapolis

The first-century theater of Hierapolis, one of the best-preserved theaters in Asia, clearly demonstrates the city's sophistication at the time Epaphras founded a church there. The carvings below the stage, which was twelve feet high, are in remar...

The Wilderness East of Bethlehem

This photograph is taken from the top of the Herodion looking east towards the wilderness. It is striking how the farms seen in the foreground end where the wilderness begins. Going to the wilderness was a short walk for the people of the Bible. V...

The Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven

Many Christians today recognize that salvation is a gift from God, so they place little emphasis on 'keeping the law' of the Bible. It is true that Jesus did away with 'law keeping' by obeying the law completely and by offering salvation through g...

Theater at Beth Shean, The First Tier

This photograph displays the remains of the first tier of seats in the theater. The elaborate stone benches are fitted into foundations cut into bedrock on this first section.The seats are carefully shaped with a lip edge for spectators' comfort. ...

Theater at Beth Shean-Stage

Though covered by wooden panels today, it was originally covered with stone. It is built on arches with drainage channels beneath it.Behind the stage stood scaenae frons a backdrop for the stage, including a row of granite and marble columns and s...

Timing of Jesus' Death

There is an abundant amount of evidence both in Scripture and in the religious practices of the Jews that God carefully planned the timing of Jesus' death and resurrection. The following are just a few examples of God's planning:Prophecies Prophec...

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