Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee
Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.
A group of archaeologists announced in May 2026 announced they believe El-Araj, a site on the lake's northeastern shore, is the ancient settlement of Bethsaida, the village where the Bible says Jesus healed a blind man and carried out some of his most famous acts of ministry.
As reported by the Daily Mail, expedition director Steven Notley confirmed during a presentation in Washington that the collected evidence virtually leaves no doubt about the authenticity of this site. Specialists discovered beneath the foundation of a Byzantine church a wall of a first-century residential house which, according to ancient descriptions, belonged to the apostles Peter and Andrew.
Among the findings are the remains of a Byzantine church, a first-century house uncovered beneath its foundation, ancient fishing weights and a mosaic inscription referring to St Peter as the 'chief of the apostles and keeper of the keys of heaven.'
Scientists emphasized that the location of the building under the basilica dome fully corresponds to the eighth-century testimony about a temple built over the apostles' house. "So, we have a first-century house wall under the apse. It doesn't have a plaque on it that says "Peter slept here,'" but from a perspective of archaeology, it doesn't get much better than that," Steven Notley commented on the discovery.
Bethsaida was the place where many miracles of Jesus Christ were performed during His public ministry. According to the Gospel of Mark, it was here that the Savior healed a blind man after leading him outside the village. The city was also in close proximity to the place where the Lord performed the feeding of five thousand people with several loaves and fish.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that archaeologists hope to find the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem.
