New Testament 36-37

Last updated on: January 15, 2015 at 6:46 pm by Dan Peterson

A Portuguese depiction of St. Peter as pope — “Saint Peter,” by Vasco Fernandes (d. ca. 1542)
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The references in all three of the synoptic gospels to Christ’s healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (πενθερὰ) tell us one thing for an absolute certainty: The first pope was married!

Capernaum from the air, with green and sea. — An aerial view of Capernaum, located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Modern visitors to Capernaum enter via the road on the right. In the foreground, the white ruins of a synagogue are visible, too late to be that of Jesus but built upon the remains of at least one earlier structure. Under the flying-saucer-like dome beyond the synagogue are the vestiges of what many (including myself) believe was Peter’s house.

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Note, incidentally, how directly Jesus goes from the synagogue into Peter’s house. The two seem to be located very near each other, as, indeed, the traditional site of Peter’s house in Capernaum is located virtually next door to the ruins of at least two synagogues. I lean strongly toward the view, by the way, that the traditional house of Peter is authentic:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700038919/Capernaum-bears-witness-of-Christ.html?pg=all.