Map and timeline

Where the story moves, and where it sits in Israel’s history.

The story's places

Regions: darker shading where more sources agree on their extent

Coordinates and outlines: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0; Jordan River © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.

Stops

Stop 1 · Matthew 2:1-12

Born in Bethlehem

Jesus is born in David's town. Magi from the east come to honor him, and Herod feels threatened.

Read Chapter 2

Places in the story

How sure scholars are of each location

BethlehemHigh confidence
Named in 6 verses: Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 2:6, Matthew 2:8, …
31.704° N, 35.208° E
EgyptHigh confidence
A region. Named in 4 verses: Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:14, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:19
30.129° N, 31.308° E
NazarethHigh confidence
Named in 5 verses: Matthew 2:23, Matthew 4:13, Matthew 13:54, Matthew 21:11, …
32.702° N, 35.298° E
JordanHigh confidence
Today: Jordan River. Named in 6 verses: Matthew 3:5, Matthew 3:6, Matthew 3:13, Matthew 4:15, …
31.761° N, 35.558° E
GalileeHigh confidence
A region. Named in 19 verses: Matthew 2:22, Matthew 3:13, Matthew 4:12, Matthew 4:13, …
32.760° N, 35.527° E
CapernaumHigh confidence
Today: Tell Hum. Named in 4 verses: Matthew 4:13, Matthew 8:5, Matthew 11:23, Matthew 17:24
32.881° N, 35.575° E
Sea of GalileeHigh confidence
Named in 3 verses: Matthew 4:18, Matthew 9:1, Matthew 15:29
32.819° N, 35.590° E
JudeaHigh confidence
A region. Named in 9 verses: Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 2:22, Matthew 3:1, …
31.777° N, 35.234° E
DecapolisHigh confidence
A region. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 4:25
32.717° N, 35.800° E
JerichoHigh confidence
Today: Tell el Alayiq. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 20:29
31.852° N, 35.436° E
GadaraHigh confidence
Today: Umm Qais. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 8:28
32.656° N, 35.679° E
JerusalemHigh confidence
Named in 15 verses: Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:3, Matthew 3:5, Matthew 4:5, …
31.777° N, 35.234° E
BethanyHigh confidence
Today: Al Eizariya. Named in 2 verses: Matthew 21:17, Matthew 26:6
31.772° N, 35.256° E
Mount of OlivesHigh confidence
Named in 3 verses: Matthew 21:1, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 26:30
31.778° N, 35.246° E
GethsemaneHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: Matthew 26:36
31.779° N, 35.239° E
GolgothaPossible confidence
Today: Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 27:33
31.778° N, 35.230° E
ChorazinLikely confidence
Today: Khirbet Karraza. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 11:21
32.911° N, 35.564° E
BethsaidaPossible confidence
Today: At Tell. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 11:21
32.910° N, 35.631° E
Caesarea PhilippiHigh confidence
Today: Banias. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 16:13
33.246° N, 35.693° E
ArimatheaPossible confidence
Today: Rantis. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 27:57
32.028° N, 35.019° E
Mediterranean SeaHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Matthew.
31.805° N, 34.170° E
Dead SeaHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Matthew.
31.500° N, 35.500° E
SamariaHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Matthew.
32.276° N, 35.195° E
TyreHigh confidence
Named in 3 verses: Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:22, Matthew 15:21
33.271° N, 35.196° E
SidonHigh confidence
Today: Sandikli archaeological site in Sidon. Named in 3 verses: Matthew 11:21, Matthew 11:22, Matthew 15:21
33.561° N, 35.372° E
SodomPossible confidence
Today: south of the Lisan. Named in 3 verses: Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:23, Matthew 11:24
31.208° N, 35.449° E
NinevehHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: Matthew 12:41
36.359° N, 43.153° E
GennesaretHigh confidence
A region. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 14:34
32.861° N, 35.507° E
MagadanLikely confidence
Today: Majdal. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 15:39
32.827° N, 35.514° E
BethphageLikely confidence
Today: Et Tur. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 21:1
31.778° N, 35.251° E
ZionHigh confidence
Today: Jerusalem. Named in 1 verse: Matthew 21:5
31.777° N, 35.234° E
AkeldamaPossible confidence
Named in 1 verse: Matthew 27:8
31.768° N, 35.233° E
CyreneHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: Matthew 27:32
32.821° N, 21.851° E

Locations and confidence: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0. About our sources

Some outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.

Where Matthew fits

Shown in order, not to scale. Dates are debated.

Exile and return

Greek rule

Rome and Herod

Jesus' ministry

After the temple falls

Judea and Galilee

Judah taken to Babylon; some return and rebuild the temple.

The Maccabean revolt; a brief Jewish kingdom.

Herod the Great rules for Rome and rebuilds the temple.

Herod's sons rule Galilee; a Roman governor rules Judea.

Jerusalem and the temple destroyed in AD 70.

Empires

Babylon, then Persia.

Alexander the Great and the kingdoms that follow him.

Rome takes control (63 BC); Augustus becomes emperor.

Tiberius is emperor; Pilate governs Judea.

Rome rebuilds its grip after the Jewish war.

This book

Jesus is born near the end of Herod's reign

Most of the story takes place

Probably written (date debated)