Galilee is the name of a region in northern Palestine, as well as the name of a large freshwater sea in the area. Early in the 1^st century AD, Herod Antipas established Tiberius, the capital of the region, on the west side of the sea. But because he had built the town on an ancient burial ground, Tiberius was unpopular, and Herod had to force people to move there. Nevertheless, it became a stable town and a prosperous region. Jesus, who was an observant Jew, probably liked Galilee because it was far from the stagnant religious establishment in Jerusalem, and he chose this area to begin his ministry.

Jesus’ ministry began at Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the town that became his base. Matthew (9:1) describes Jesus returning to "his own town," and Mark (2:1) supports this assessment. Although Capernaum offered no real advantages over other places in the region, it did provide Jesus with his first disciples, the fishermen Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:21,29, John 1:35). Despite this initial success, Jesus’ teaching had little impact in Capernaum itself, and it was about this area that he said (Luke 4:24) "I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country."

The miracle of the loaves and fishes occurred in Galilee. Seeing the huge crowd that had gathered to hear him preach and being concerned about their hunger, Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish, and directed his disciples to feed the multitudes (Matthew 14:21). "Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children." When all had eaten their fill, enough food remained to fill twelve baskets with scraps, and the people were amazed.

Nearby is the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount, one of the most inspiring and bewildering of his sermons. It was here also that he taught his followers the words of the Lord’s Prayer. The Church of the Beatitudes is now on this site, and offers beautiful and peaceful views over the land where Jesus lived and preached.