Judea 

Judea, located in the southern part of modern-day Palestine and Israel, played a crucial role in Jesus' ministry. This mountainous region, including major cities like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron, was under Roman rule during Jesus' time. Despite political instability and the challenges of Roman governance, Judea remained a central location for Jesus' teachings and significant life events. From his birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem, Judea witnessed key moments in Jesus' life and the early Christian movement. The region's religious importance, coupled with its complex political landscape, provided the backdrop for many of Jesus' most impactful teachings and encounters.

Today, Judea is a region in the southern part of the states of Palestine and Israel. The territory is known as the West Bank. Judea is a mountainous region, with part of it is considered a desert. John the Baptist tended sheep in the so-called “wilderness of Judea,” between Hebron and Engedi, next to the Dead Sea. Major urban areas in the region include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Hebron.

Judea lost its independence to the Romans in the 1st century BCE, and in 6 CE, Judea came under direct Roman rule, although Jews living there still maintained some form of independence. In 66 CE, the Jewish population rose against Roman rule in an unsuccessful revolt. Jerusalem was besieged in 70 CE. The city was razed, the Second Temple was destroyed, and much of the population was killed or enslaved.

Herod the Great seized the overlordship of Judea. The Jews were very concerned about having an outsider, an Idumean, to rule them. When Herod the Great heard of the birth of a new "king of the Jews," he ordered the slaughter of all babies under the age of two in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary had traveled there for the census and were warned and escaped to Alexandria before the killings. They remained in Egypt for two years, departing after Herod died.

After Herod, his son Archelaus, with equally menacing policies, succeeded him in Judea, Samaria (north of Judea), and Idumea (south of Judea), while his son Antipas ruled in Galilee and Perea. Herod Antipas was instrumental in the death of John the Baptist and Jesus. When John the Baptist heard of the evil doings of Herod Antipas and the governors in Judea, he became convinced that the end of the age was imminent.

At the time of Jesus’ baptism, Pontius Pilate began his rule as governor of Judea. Of all the Roman provinces, Judea was the most difficult to govern. Festering thoughts of rebellion against the Romans were often fomented in Judea.

Joseph chose Galilee over Judea to raise Jesus. Galilee was more beautiful and prosperous than Judea. It was only a quarter of the cost of living in a big city in Judea like Jerusalem. The Jews avoided the Gentiles in Judea, but in Galilee, they mingled.

Jesus did much of his ministry in Judea, whose main city of importance was Jerusalem. Jesus attended the Passover there multiple times and spoke often in the synagogues. Later, the Jewish leaders banned Jesus from speaking and orchestrated his arrest. Jesus’ final days occurred during the Passover in Jerusalem.

Several of Jesus’ friends lived in Jerusalem. The family tomb of Joseph of Arimathea lay just outside the city where Jesus was buried. Elijah Mark’s home is where Jesus had the Last Supper, and the apostles hid when Jesus poured out his Spirit of Truth at Pentecost. Nicodemus’ home was a meeting place and a safe spot for the apostles. Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived nearby in Bethany and Zaccheus in Jericho.

Judas Iscariot, the twelfth apostle, was born in Kerioth, a small town in southern Judea. When he was a lad, his parents moved to Jericho, where he lived until he joined John the Baptist as a disciple. He was the only apostle from Judea.

Jesus began his public work quietly, taking over John’s work in Perea and Judea. Their first public preaching tour was in Judea, starting in Jerusalem. After the ordination of the seventy disciples, they were sent to Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. During the Decapolis Tour, Abner moved his operations from Hebron to Bethlehem, which also became the headquarters in Judea for David Zebedee’s messengers.

Jesus appeared nineteen times after his resurrection. Twelve were in Judea, with ten in Jerusalem and two in Bethany. After the last appearance, Jesus led his apostles up the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, where he bid them farewell and disappeared from their sight and began his ascent back to heaven.