IN WITNESSING to Cornelius, the apostle Peter mentioned what Jesus did “in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.” (Ac 10:39) What areas do you think were included in Jesus’ history-making ministry?

“The country of the Jews” included Judea, where Jesus did some of God’s work. (Lu 4:44) After being baptized, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness of Judah (or, Judea), a rather arid and desolate region frequented by rebels and bandits. (Lu 10:30) Later, Jesus was traveling northward from Judea when he witnessed to a Samaritan woman near Sychar.​—Joh 4:3-7.

A review of the Gospels shows that Jesus concentrated on Galilee. Though he went south to Jerusalem for annual festivals, he spent most of the first two years of his ministry in the northern part of the Promised Land. (Joh 7:2-10; 10:22, 23) For example, he outlined many notable teachings and performed impressive miracles while near or on the Sea of Galilee. Recall that he calmed its stormy waters and even walked on it. He preached from boats to crowds on the pebbly shores of that sea. His early, close followers were from fishing and farming communities nearby.​—Mr 3:7-12; 4:35-41; Lu 5:1-11; Joh 6:16-21; 21:1-19.

The base for Jesus’ Galilean ministry was shoreside Capernaum, “his own city.” (Mt 9:1) He was on a hillside not far away when he gave his famous Sermon on the Mount. On occasion, he went by boat from the Capernaum area to Magadan, Bethsaida, or nearby spots.

Note that Jesus’ “own city” was not very far from Nazareth, where he grew up; from Cana, where he turned water into wine; from Nain, where he raised the son of a widow; and from Bethsaida, where he miraculously fed 5,000 men and restored sight to a blind man.

After the Passover of 32 C.E., Jesus went north toward Tyre and Sidon, Phoenician ports. Then he extended his ministry to some of the ten Hellenized cities called the Decapolis. Jesus was near Caesarea Philippi (F2) when Peter acknowledged him as the Messiah, and the transfiguration soon followed, perhaps on Mount Hermon. Later, Jesus preached in the region of Perea, across the Jordan.​—Mr 7:24-37; 8:27–9:2; 10:1; Lu 13:22, 33.

Jesus spent his last week on earth with his disciples in and around Jerusalem, “the city of the great King.” (Mt 5:35) You can find nearby places that you have read about in the Gospels, such as Emmaus, Bethany, Bethphage, and Bethlehem.​—Lu 2:4; 19:29; 24:13; see “Jerusalem Area,” inset on page 18.

 [Map on page 29]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

Promised Land (Jesus’ time)

The Land in Jesus’ Day

Cities of the Decapolis

E5 Hippo(s)

E6 Pella

E6 Scythopolis

F5 Gadara

F7 Gerasa

G5 Dion

G9 Philadelphia

H1 Damascus

H4 Raphana

I5 Canatha

Main Roads (See publication)

Common Route Between Galilee and Jerusalem (See publication)

Alternate Route Between Galilee and Jerusalem, Through Perea (See publication)

A11 Gaza

B6 Caesarea

B8 Joppa

B9 Lydda

B12 Beer-sheba

C4 Ptolemais

C8 SAMARIA

C8 Antipatris

C8 Arimathea

C9 Emmaus

C10 JUDEA

C11 Hebron

C12 IDUMEA

D1 Sidon

D2 Tyre

D3 PHOENICIA

D4 GALILEE

D4 Cana

D5 Sepphoris

D5 Nazareth

D5 Nain

D7 Samaria

D7 Sychar

D9 Ephraim

D9 Bethphage

D9 Jerusalem

D9 Bethany

D10 Bethlehem

D10 Herodium

D10 WILDERNESS OF JUDAH

D12 Masada

E4 Chorazin

E4 Bethsaida

E4 Capernaum

E4 Magadan

E5 Tiberias

E5 Hippo(s)

E6 Bethany? (across the Jordan)

E6 Scythopolis

E6 Pella

E6 Salim

E6 Aenon

E9 Jericho

F1 ABILENE

F2 Caesarea Philippi

F4 Gamala

F5 Abila?

F5 Gadara

F7 PEREA

F7 Gerasa

G3 ITURAEA

G5 Dion

G6 DECAPOLIS

G9 Philadelphia

H1 Damascus

H3 TRACHONITIS

H4 Raphana

H12 ARABIA

I5 Canatha

[Mountains]

D7 Mt. Ebal

D7 Mt. Gerizim

F2 Mt. Hermon

[Bodies of water]

B6 Mediterranean Sea (Great Sea)

E4 Sea of Galilee

E10 Salt Sea (Dead Sea)

[Rivers]

E7 Jordan River

[Springs and wells]

D7 Jacob’s Fountain

[Picture on page 28]

Sea of Galilee. Capernaum is in the left foreground. View is southwest across the Plain of Gennesaret

[Picture on page 28]

Samaritans worshiped on Mount Gerizim. Mount Ebal is in the background