Perea 

John set up camp in Perea, just south of Pella. Here, in the Jordan River, Jesus was baptized. Jesus planned his future work during his forty days in the wilderness in the nearby Perean Hills and then returned to John’s camp. Here Jesus’ first four apostles said goodbye to John the Baptist, who gave them his blessings for their future work with Jesus.

John the Baptist was working in southern Perea when he was arrested, incarcerated, and executed. John was held in the fortress of Machaerus before his execution and Herod maintained residence at both Julias and Machaerus in Perea.

During the entire year of 27 CE, Jesus quietly took over John’s work in Perea and Judea, on either side of the Jordan River. In February of that year, Jesus took his apostles and a large group of followers to the ford near Bethany in Perea on the Jordan River, the place where John first preached. Here they remained for four weeks teaching and preaching. This was the beginning of Jesus’ public preaching.

On November 19, 29 CE, Jesus ordained seventy disciples at Magadan. By the end of the year, Jesus and his apostles established their last headquarters in Perea, near Pella, the site where the Master was baptized in the Jordan River. This site in Perea overflowed with almost fifteen hundred pilgrim visitors who came into Perea to see Jesus and to hear his teaching. Since so many came to hear Jesus, he and at least ten of the apostles mostly remained at the Perean headquarters to instruct the people. Jesus’ last preaching tour, the Perean mission, spanned three months, ending with the Master’s final entry into Jerusalem.

On Tuesday, January 3, 30 CE, Abner sent the newly commissioned seventy disciples, two by two, along with the women’s corps, to all the cities and villages of Perea. Abner, the chief of John the Baptist’s twelve apostles, became chief of the disciples and the women's corps. The women concentrated on visiting homes and ministering to the sick and the afflicted.

Philadelphia turned out to be the most successful city for winning souls. Among the various cities in Perea, a diverse group of residents of this city enthusiastically accepted and followed the teachings of the seventy. The synagogue in Philadelphia had always operated independently from the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, and as a result, it had never prohibited the teachings of Jesus and his followers. Jesus’ teachings were sufficient for the Gospel to succeed.

From February 11 to 20, 30 CE Jesus and his apostles went to the cities and villages of northern Perea where the associates of Abner and the women’s corps were working. On Sunday night, February 26, a runner from Bethany arrived in Philadelphia informing Jesus that Lazarus was very ill. Jesus later headed to Bethany (in Judea) and resurrected Lazarus from the dead.

Late on Monday evening, March 6, Jesus and his apostles arrived back at the Pella camp. With the news of bringing Lazarus back from the dead, swarms of curious people flooded the camp. Jesus taught the people in place for a week. On Monday, March 13, Jesus and his twelve apostles took final leave of the Pella encampment, and for over two weeks, visited the cities of southern Perea where Abner’s associates were now at work. On Wednesday, March 29, Jesus completed his teaching in southern Perea and headed to Jerusalem.

On April 4, Jesus said his farewell to Lazarus, instructing him to flee due to the persecution from the Sanhedrin who believed his resurrection from death occurred only because Jesus was in league with evil forces. Lazarus proceeded to Philadelphia in Perea. He later became involved with the missionary movement headquartered there. As soon as Martha and Mary disposed of their property in Bethany, they joined their brother.