The City of Bethlehem in the Time of Jesus - The Life of Jesus in Harmony with Background (Bible History Online)

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The Life of Jesus in Harmony

T he City of Bethlehem in the Time of Jesus

Luke 2:10, 11 - And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

During the time of Jesus the village of Bethlehem was located in the hill country of Judea around 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It was referred to by the angel as the City of David where Christ (the Messiah) was born as predicted by the prophet Micah in the 8th century BC. The site had already been sacred to the Jews. Jacob's beloved Rachel died at Bethlehem and her tomb was located there. In Bethlehem Ruth and Boaz lived. It was in Bethlehem that David was born, he was a shepherd when Samuel came and anointed him as the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). David's mighty men also brought him water from the well at Bethlehem. When Herod the Great heard the news about Jesus and the magi who came to honor him Herod ordered the death of all the male babies in Bethlehem under two years of age. In ancient times the city of Bethlehem was known as Ephrath.

THE city of Bethlehem (or House of Bread) lies within the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah. It lies in the midst of what was a fertile country, about six miles south by west from Jerusalem. The ancient city was beautifully situated on a commanding ridge, 2700 feet above the level of the sea. The hills around it were terraced, and clothed with vines, fig trees, and almonds, and the surrounding valleys yielded luxuriant harvests of grain. Jacob buried Rachel near its gate, and it was the home of Ruth and the birthplace of David, and " David's greater son " the Lord Jesus Christ. Its population was small in the days of the Saviour, but at present is about 3000, nearly all the inhabitants being Christians. It is said to be one of the cleanest and neatest towns in Israel. St. Jerome lived there for more than thirty years, and there made his famous translation of the Bible into the Latin language. - Ancient Geography

Historical Notes

- BETH'LEHEM "House of Bread" (BETH'LECHEM)

- The most striking building in Bethlehem is the Basilica of the Nativity, erected over a cave in the 2nd century AD and made the traditional site of the birth of Jesus.

- The Catholic theologian Jerome was in Bethlehem when he completed the Latin translation of the Bible which is still in use today as the Roman Catholic text.

Related Topics: Judea, Jerusalem, Mary, Joseph, Herod the Great, the Shepherds, the Magi, the Star, the Manger.

The Life of Jesus

Background

An Outline of The Life of Jesus in Harmony

"I marvel that whereas the ambitious dreams of myself, Caesar, and Alexander should have vanished into thin air, a Judean peasant - Jesus should be able to stretch his hands across the centuries and control the destinies of men and nations." - Napoleon I Bonaparte (1809)

The Birth of John the Baptist

Jerusalem

Gabriel Announces John's Birth (Lk 1:5-25)

The History of the Birth of Jesus

The Genealogy of Jesus (Mat 1:1-17; Lk 3:23-38).

Nazareth
Gabriel Announces to Mary (Lk 1:26-38). Mary Visits Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-56).

An Angel Comes to Joseph (Mat 1:18-25)
Bethlehem
The Decree of Augustus Caesar and the Birth of Christ (Lk 2:1-7).
The First Visitors - Shepherds (Lk 2:8-20).
The Second Visitors - Magi (Mat 2:1-12).
Jerusalem
Jesus is Circumcised and Presented in the Temple (Lk 2:21-38).
Egypt
Out of Egypt (Mat 2:13-23).
Nazareth

Jesus' Early Years
Jerusalem
The Boy Jesus at the Temple (Lk 2:41-52).
The Beginning of His Ministry
The Jordan
Jesus is Baptized in the Jordan (Mat 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-23).
The Wilderness
The Temptation in the Wilderness (Mat 4:1-11; Mk 1:12, 13; Lk 4:1-13).
The Eternal Word (Jn 1:1-18).
The Testimony of John (Jn 1:19-34).
The First Disciples (Jn 1:35-51).
Cana
Turning Water to Wine (Jn 2:1-12).
Jesus Visits Jerusalem The First Passover
Jerusalem

A House of Merchandise (Jn 2:13-25).
Unless One is Born Again (Jn 3:1-21).
Jesus Baptizes (Jn 3:22, with 4:2).
Galilee
He Departed Again to Galilee (Mat 4:12; Mk 1:14; Lk 4:14; Jn 4:1-3).
Samaria
The Woman at the Well (Jn 4:4-42). Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Galilee
He Taught in Their Synagogues (Mt 4:17; Mk 1:14,15; Lk 4:14,15; Jn 4:43-45).
Nazareth
A Certain Nobleman (Jn 4:46-54)
Physician, Heal Yourself! (Mat 4:13-16; Lk 4:16-31).
Sea of Galilee
Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mat 4:18-22; Mk 1:16-20; Lk 5:1-11).
Galilee
And Jesus Went About All Galilee . . Teaching (Mat 4:23-25; Mk 1:35-39, Lk 4:42-44). A Man With an Unclean Spirit (Mk 1:21-28; Lk 4:31-37).
Capernaum
Simon's Wife's Mother Lay Sick (Mat 8:14-17; Mk 1:29-34; Lk 4:38-41).
Then a Leper Came to Him (Mat 8:2-4; Mk 1:40-45; Lk 5:12- 16).
They Brought to Him a Paralytic (Mat 9:2-8; Mk 2:1-12; Lk 5:17-26).
Capernaum
Matthew the Tax Collector (Mat 9:9; Mk 2:13, 14; Lk 5:27, 28).
The Second Passover Jerusalem
Healing at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath Day (Jn 5:1-47).
Healing in the Synagogue on the Sabbath Day (Mat 12:9-14; Mk 3:1-6, Lk 6:6-11).
And in His Name Gentiles Will Trust (Mat 12:15-21; Mk 3:7-12) Then He Appointed Twelve (Mat 10:2-4; Mk 3:13-19; Lk 6: 12-19).
The Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7; Lk 6:20-49).
A Certain Centurion's Servant (Mat 8:5-13; Lk 7:1-10).
Nain
Jesus Raises the Dead Son at Nain (Lk 7:11-17).

Are You the Coming One? (Mat 11:2-19; Lk 7:18-35).
My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light (Mat 11:20-30).
Capernaum
The Woman With the Alabaster Flask (Lk 7:36-50).
Mary Called Magdalene (Lk 8:1-3).
The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mat 12:22-37; Mk 3: 19-30; Lk 11:14-20).
Teacher, We Want to See a Sign From You (Mat 12:38-45; Lk 11:16-36).
Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees, Hypocrites (Lk 11:37-54).
He Began to Say to His Disciples (Lk 12:1-59).
Parable of the Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9).
Parable of the Sower (Mat 13:1-23; Mk 4:1-25; Lk 8:4-18).
Many Such Parables (Mat 13:24-53; Mk 4:26-34).
Sea of Galilee
Jesus Rebukes the Storm (Mat 8:18-27; Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25).

The Herd of Many Swine (Mat 8:28-33; Mk 5:1-21; Lk 8:26-40).
Nazareth
He Came Again to His Own City (Mat 9:1; Mk 5:21 Lk 8:40).
The Parable of the Wineskins (Mat 9:10-17; Mk 2:15-22; Lk 5:29-39).
Jairus' Daughter and the Woman With the Flow of Blood (Mat 9:18-26; Mk 5:22-43; Lk 8:41-56).
The Blind and the Mute (Mat 9:27-34).
A Prophet is Not Without Honor Except in His Own Country (Mat 13:53-58; Mk 6:1-6).
He Was Moved With Compassion For Them (Mat 9:35-38)
Sent His Disciples Out With Power and Authority (Mat 10; Mk 6:6-13, Lk 9:1-6).
Machaerus
John the Baptist is Beheaded (Mat 14:1, 2, 6-12, Mk 6:14-16, 21-29; Lk 9:7-9).
Near Bethsaida
The Disciples Return, Feeding Five Thousand (Mat 14:13-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17, Jn 6:1-14).
Sea of Galilee
They Saw Him Walking on the Sea (Mat 14:22-36; Mk 6:45-56; Jn 6:15-21).
Capernaum

I Am the Bread of Life (Jn 6:22-65).
Do you also want to go away? (Jn 6:66-71).
Unwashed Hands (Mat 15:1-20; Mk 7:1-23).
A Woman of Canaan (Mat 15:21-28; Mk 7:24-30).
Then Great Multitudes Came to Him (Mat 15:29-31, Mk 7:31-37).
Feeding Four Thousand (Mat 15:32-39; Mk 8:1-9).
Seeking From Him a Sign From Heaven (Mat 16:1-4; Mk 8:10-12).

The Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mat 16:4-12; Mk 8:13-21).
Bethsaida
Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-26).
Caesarea Philippi
Jesus Reveals Who He is at Caesarea Philippi (Mat 16:13-20; Mk 8:27-30; Lk 9:18-21).

He Must Go to Jerusalem and Be Killed (Mat 16:21-28; Mk 8:31-38; 9:1; Lk 9:21-27).
And He Was Transfigured (Mat 17:1-13; Mk 9:2-13; Lk 9:28-36).
And Jesus Rebuked the Demon (Mat 17:14-21; Mk 9:14-29; Lk 9:37-43).
Speaks Again of His Death (Mat 17:22, 23; Mk 9:30-32; Lk 9:43-45).
Capernaum
Miracle of the Coin in the Fish's Mouth (Mat 17:24-27).
Which One is the Greatest? (Mat 18:1-35; Mk 9:33-50; Lk 9:46-50).
He Who is Not Against Us is On Our Side (Mk 9:38, 39; Lk 9:49, 50).
The Feast of Tabernacles
Jerusalem
Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem (Lk 9:51-62; Jn 7:2-11).
The Lord Appointed Seventy Others (Lk 10:1-16).
The Ten Lepers (Lk 17:11-19).
Teaches in the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn 7:14-53; 8:1-59).
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37).
The Report of the Seventy (Lk 10:17-24).
Bethany
The House of Mary and Martha (Lk 10:38-42).
Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Pray (Lk 11:1-13).
The Feast of Dedication
Jerusalem
I Was Blind, Now I See (Jn 9:1-41).
My Sheep Hear My Voice (Jn 9:39-41; 10:1-21).
They Picked Up Stones To Stone Him (Jn 10:22-39).
Bethabara
Beyond the Jordan (Jn 10:40-42; 11:3-16).
Bethany
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (Jn 11:1-46).
Ephraim
The Declaration of Caiaphas (Jn 11:47-54).
Judea
The Woman Who Was Bent Over (Mat 19:1, 2; Mk 10:1; Lk 13:10-35).
Take the Lowest Seat (Lk 14:1-24).
Count the Cost (Lk 14:25-35).
More Parables, Prodigal Son (Lk 15:1-32; 16:1-13).
Exposes the Hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Lk 16:14-18).
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31).
Increase Our Faith (Lk 17:1-10).
Teaches the Pharisees About the Coming of the Kingdom (Lk 17:20-37).

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18:1-14).
Marriage and Divorce (Mat 19:3-12; Mk 10:2-12).
Let the Little Children Come to Me (Mat 19:13-15; Mk 10:13-16; Lk 18:15-17).
Rich Young Ruler (Mat 19:16-22; Mk 10:17-22; Lk 18:18-24).
The Parable of the Vineyard (Mat 20:1-16).
Again Foretelling His Death (Mat 20:17-19; Mk 10:32-34; Lk 18:31-34).
Can I Sit at Your Right Hand? (Mat 20:20-28; Mk 10:35-45).
Jericho
Blind Bartimaeus (Mat 20:29-34; Mk 10:46-50; Lk 18:35-43).
Zacchaeus who was a Chief Tax Collector (Lk 19:1-10).
The Parable of the Minas (Lk 19:11-28).
Bethany
Mary Anoints the Feet of Jesus (Jn 12:1-9).
Jerusalem
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Mat 21:1-11; Mk 11:1-11; Lk 19:29-44; Jn 12:12-19).
Jesus Enters the Temple (Mat 21:12, Mk 11:11; Lk 19:45).
Drives the Vendors Out of the Temple (Mat 21:12, 13; Lk 19:45, 46).
The Blind and Lame Came to Him (Mat 21:14). He Was Teaching Daily in the Temple (Lk 19:47, 48).
The Withered Fig Tree (Mat 21:17-22; Mk 11:12-14, 20-22).
The Parable of the Two Sons (Mat 21:28-31);
The Parable of the Vinedressers (Mat 21:33-46; Mk 12:1-12; Lk 20:9-19);

The Parable of the Great Supper (Mat 22:1-14; Lk 14:16-24).
Tested By the Pharisees (Mat 22:15-22; Mk 12:13-17; Lk 20:20-26).
Tested By the Sadducees (Mat 22:23-33; Mk 12:18-27; Lk 20:27-40);
Tested By a Lawyer (Mat 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-34).
Beware of the Scribes and the Pharisees (Mat 23; Mk 12:38-40; Lk 20:45-47).
A Certain Poor Widow (Mk 12:41-44; Lk 21:1-4).
The Prophecy of Isaiah About their Blindness (Jn 12:37-50).
Foretells the Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem (Mat 24; Mk 13; Lk 21:5-36).
He Saw the City and Wept Over It (Mat 23:37; Lk 19:41-44).
The Parables of the Ten Virgins and The Talents (Mat 25:1-30).
The Sheep and the Goats (Mat 25:31-46).
Anointed with the Flask of Spikenard (Mat 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-9; Jn 12:1-8).
The Last Passover
Jerusalem
The Last Passover (Mat 26:17-30; Mk 14:12-25; Lk 22:7-20).
Began to Wash the Disciples' Feet (Jn 13:1-17).
The Hand of My Betrayer is With Me (Mat 26:23; Mk 14:18-21; Lk 22:21; Jn 13:18).

What You Do . . Do Quickly (Mat 26:21-25; Mk 14:18-21; Lk 22:21-23; Jn 13:21-30).
Teaches About the Holy Spirit (Jn 14; 15; 16).
Jesus' Intercession (Jn 17).
The Prayer in Gethsemane (Mat 26:30, 36-46; Mk 14:26, 32-42; Lk 22:39-46; Jn 18:1).
Betrayed and Taken (Mat 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-54, 66-72; Lk 22:47-53; Jn 18:2-12).
The Trial (Mat 26:57, 58, 69-75; Mk 14:53, 54, 66-72; Lk 22:54-62; Jn 18:13-18, 25-27).

Delivered to Pilate (Mat 27:1, 2, 11-14; Mk 15:1-5; Lk 23:1-5; Jn 18:28-38).
He Sent Him to Herod (Lk 23:6-12).
Tried Before Pilate (Mat 27:15-26; Mk 15:6-15; Lk 23:13-25; Jn 18:39, 40; 19:1-16).

Mocked by the Soldiers (Mat 27:27-31; Mk 15:16-20).

Crucifixion

Led Him Away to be Crucified (Mat 27:31-34; Mk 15:20-23; Lk 23:26-32; Jn 19:16, 17).

Crucified (Mat 27:35-56; Mk 15:24-41; Lk 23:33-49; Jn 19:18-30).
Joseph of Arimathea (Mat 27:57-66; Mk 15:42-47; Lk 23:50-56; Jn 19:31-42). The Resurrection

He is Risen (Mat 28:2-15, Mk 16:1-11 Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18).
Has Appeared to Simon (Lk 24:34; 1Cor 15:5).
Road to Emmaus
Appears to Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Mk 16:12, 13: Lk 24:13-35).

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