Herod the Tetrarch
Acts 13:1
Government.
Galilee was under the Roman rule of emperors Augustus and Tiberius during the time of Christ. Roman fortifications throughout Galilee were a constant reminder of the presence and influence of the Roman Empire. During Christ’s ministry Rome installed the tetrarch, Herod Antipas (Mt 14:1; Lk 23:5–7) to rule the territory. He was appointed to office when 17 years old. Sepphoris was his first capital, and about A.D. 22 he built Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee as his new capital, in honor of the emperor.
Products.
Abundant crops enabled Galilee to provide produce for the neighboring Phoenician cities of Tyre and Sidon around the middle of the 1st century A.D. Main crops included grapes, pomegranates, olives, and grains. Fishing in the Sea of Galilee was a prominent business in NT times (Mk 1:14–20).
Jesus and Galilee.
Jesus was raised in Galilee (Lk 4:16), and 11 of his 12 disciples were from there (Judas was the only Judean).
The culture, commerce, farming, and fishing business of the area formed the background for much of Jesus’ ministry, as his parables show (Mt 20:1–8; 21:33; Mk 4:3; Lk 13:6–9). The first three Gospels are largely occupied with Christ’s ministry in Galilee with much of it being spent around the Sea of Galilee. Most of his parables (19 of 32) were spoken here and the vast majority of his miracles (25 of 33) were performed in Galilee. Jesus received his greatest response in this region. The Sermon on the Mount was spoken in Galilee, and one of its mountains was the scene of the Lord’s transfiguration. Many of the women who followed Christ and ministered to him also came from here (Mt 27:55). Two of Christ’s most significant post resurrection appearances took place in Galilee (Mt 28:16–20; Jn 21:1–23), and one of Christ’s own titles, Jesus of Nazareth (Jn 1:45), identified him as a Galilean.
Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1988 : 836. Print.
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