BETHSAIDA
Place of fishing,
1. A city in Galilee, on the western shore of the lake of Gennesareth, a little north of Capernaum; it was the birthplace of the apostles Philip, Andrew, and Peter, and was often visited by our Lord, Matthew 11:21; Mark 6:45; Mark 1:8.
2. A city in Gaulonitis, north of the same lake, and east of the Jordan. Near this place Christ fed the five thousand. It lay on a gentle hill near the Jordan separated from the sea of Galilee by a plain three miles wide, of surpassing fertility, Luke 9:10. Compare Matthew 1:14-22; Mark 1:6-45. This town was enlarged by Philip, tetrarch of that region, Luke 3:1, and called Julias in honor of Julia, the daughter of Augustus. It is now little but ruins.