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Day 3 – Monday, May 6: Caesarea, Carmel, Megiddo, Precipice of Nazareth, Tiberias

Today was our first full day here in Israel and a great start to our trip. We made many biblical connections all day long. Today was also the Holocaust memorial day, making for a special time at Caesarea this morning. The weather included a great bit of sun in the morning, with clouds and sun in the afternoon. Temps were in the 70s. We read from Psalm 44:8 as we left the hotel at 7:30.

Caesarea

Our first stop here in the Sharon Plain was Caesarea. We were the only group here! This was an impressive coastal city built by Herod the Great over a 12 year period (22-10 BC). In the theater we read from Acts 8 (Phillip), 9 (Paul), 10 (Peter), Acts 12 (Agrippa 1), Acts 21 (Philip), and Acts 26 (Paul). From here we walked across the city to see the palace, hippodrome, the location of the grand harbor, and the Crusader gate, wall, and mote. At 10 a.m., the sirens sounded as we then stood in silence in honor of the 6 million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. We also saw an impressive porphyry (purple) statue, probably that of Hadrian. Before we left the site, we saw the aqueduct that brought water into the city.

Mt. Carmel

Our second destination of the day was to Mt. Carmel, a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. The place visited here is call Muhraha. We first entered a small Carmelite chapel where we read passages such as Isaiah 35, Amos 1 & 9, 2 Kings 4, Songs of Songs 7, Jeremiah 46 & 50, and 1 Kings 18 that reference Mt. Carmel. This last narrative captures the confrontation that took place between Elijah and the prophets of Baal! We then climbed to the roof to the chapel for an incredible view. The visibly was very clear!  Here we could see Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), the Hill of Moreh (Judges 6-7, 2 Kings 4), Mt. Tabor (Judges 4-5), Cana (in the Lower Galilee (John 2,4), and Nazareth (Luke 1,4). Following this visit, we drove five minutes to a wonderful lunch at a Druze restaurant.

Megiddo

Located along the edge of the Jezreel Valley is Megiddo. This archaeological site was about 25 layers of occupation spanning a period of about 2,500 years! It was a Canaanite and Israelite city. Pharaohs like Thutmose III conquered it in 1468 BC. Climbing the site, we saw 3 series of city gates, Solomon’s stables and palace, a sacrificial altar from the Early Bronze Period, and a grain silo. Unfortunately because of repairs being done, the water system was closed.This was engineered to bring water safely inside the walls of the city. We also had a great view of the Jezreel Valley referred to as the Valley of Armageddon in Revelation 16. In the end, God wins when Jesus returns!

Precipice of Nazareth

To end the day we drove across the Jezreel valley. We passed near Tel Jezreel (Kings 21 and 2 Kings 8-9 and the slopes of the Gilboa Range (1 Samuel 31) on our way to the Precipice of Nazareth. The visibility from here of Mt. Tabor, the Hill or Moreh, Gilboa, and Mt. Carmel to the west was so impressive! To the east we could even see the Hills of Gilead across the Jordan Valley (in Jordan today). We considered the life of Jesus as read from Luke 4 and John 1.

From here we drove to our hotel (En Gev) on the Southeast side of the Sea of Galilee. It’s a very nice “kibbutz-hotel” on the shoreline of the lake. Upon arriving, we enjoyed dinner and a free evening. What a great first full day!

Day 4 – Tuesday, May 7: Gamla, Katzrin, Hippos/Sussita, Khirbet Cana

Today was a southern Golan Heights day. Because of the northern conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, we could not travel any further than Katzrin for safety reasons. But we substituted other sites for the ones we were not able to see. It was another great day. We even ended the day with an adventurous experience to Cana! The weather was mostly sunny, with temps around 80. We read from Matthew 4 as we left the hotel at 7:30.

Gamla

We started the day by driving north on this eastern side of the lake. We ascended into the Golan Heights and stopped for an overlook of the northern end of the lake and the area of Bethsaida. We read from Mark 8 and Luke 9 about the Feeding of the 5,000 that happened right below us. We then continued to Gamla, our first site of the day. Gamla was a Jewish city that played a significant role in the First Revolt (66 AD). The Romans came here and defeated the city run 67 AD. Almost everyone in the group walked down (and then back up) the difficult trail to the excavations. We entered the 1st century synagogue where we read from Matthew 9. Even though Gamla is not mentioned in the Gospels, there is a high probability that Jesus taught from this rectangular synagogue!

Katzrin

Following our hike back up Gamla, we drove further north to Katzrin. Here is an ancient Talmudic Village that dates from the 3rd-7th centuries AD. Among the ruins we saw the synagogue and house structures, including a partially-restored house. However, in the completely reconstructed stone house we gathered to hear the story of Mark 2. We could see the story unfolding before our very eyes! Before leaving Katzrin we enjoyed an “extra” stop at the olive oil factory. We were only the second group in the last seven months.

Hippos/Sussita

We then turned south on the east side towards Hippos/Sussita. On the way we made a brief stop to see the cliffs mentioned in Mark 5. At Hippos (a Decapolis city), we saw many Roman ruins. During the Byzantine Period (4th-6th centuries AD), there were no less than a half a dozen churches were built here. With a great view of the entire lake (13 miles long), we read the transformational story of the demoniac from Mark 5.  

Khirbet Cana (Biblical Cana)

To end the day, we drove west towards the Lower Galilee. After dropping off half of the group at the hotel, the rest of us drove around the north side of the lake past Chorazin. We then made our way through the Arab city of Arrabe to get us to the northern side of the Beit Netofa Valley. We then took a dirt road to get to Khirbet Cana. When we arrived, we climbed up to the top of this very “off the beaten path” archaeological site. While standing in what was possibly the 1st century synagogue we remembered the story from John 2 about Jesus turning water into wine here and the story form John 4. We were only the third “DeLancey group” to ever to come here. No doubt no other groups come here let alone know where this true site of Cana is located. It was quite an adventure!

About 5:45 p.m., we began our drive back to our hotel where dinner was awaiting for us. We got back at 7 p.m. We enjoyed a free evening and a good night’s sleep!

Day 5 – Wednesday, May 8: Arbel (Hike Option), Yardenit, Magdala, Capernaum, Ancient Boat, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

Today was a day of focusing upon the life and ministry of Jesus around (and on) the Sea of Galilee. It was a beautiful day of full sun, with high temps in the low 80s. We read from Matthew 13 (the Parable of the Sower) as we left the hotel following a wonderful breakfast at 7:15 this morning.

Mt. Arbel

We drove to the southern end of the lake and then turned north to there western side in order to get to the trailhead Mt. Arbel hike. Gaven, Pastor Mike and John were the ones who climbed the cliff trail to the top, while others bused through Tiberias to the visitor center and ascended to the top from there. The view from on top was amazing. We could even see the slight-snowcapped Mt. Hermon some 30 miles to the north! While we cannot be sure (since Arbel is not mentioned in the Gospels, although Josephus mentions Arbela in Antiquities 14.415), maybe this was where the Jesus’ Transfiguration took place (Mt. 17), or where he taught (perhaps on the lower northern slopes) the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). It is also very possible that on top of Arbel was where Jesus met His disciples following His resurrection and shared the Great Commission (Mt. 28). Before we ended our gathering on top, Shlomo read the first portion of Matthew 5 (the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount) in Hebrew for us. Back at the visitor center, we were treated to Magnum bars (complements of Amiel, our travel company here in Israel). Thank you Amiel!

Yardenit/Jordan River

From here, we drove directly to the southern end of the lake to Yardenit. A total of 10 in the group renewed their faith in Christ as Pastor Mike officiated in this optional baptism service. The water was refreshing but not overly cold (as it is in the winter months). It was a special time for everyone, setting ourselves apart for service in God’s kingdom.

Kinneret Cemetery

From the southern end of the lake we now drove back north along the southwestern shoreline of the lake. We included an extra stop at the Kinneret Cemetery. This is where an early Jewish pioneer woman named “Rachel” is buried. Shlomo shared about her life. She was an Ukrainian Jew who wrote poems, some of which were put to songs. She died in 1931.

Magdala

From here we drove through Tiberias to the Plain of Genesseret and to the ancient city of Magdala. This was a large Jewish city in the days of Jesus. We saw a modest 1st century synagogue here. Although the city is only mentioned once (Matthew 15 when Jesus sails into Magdala), Jesus must have taught here! We saw a few more ritual baths as well. Archaeologists suggest that a second 1st century synagogue was discovered a few years ago on the other side of the road.

Capernaum

Following lunch, we drove to Capernaum, located on the NW corner of the lake. This Jewish town served as Jesus’ “home base” for His Galilean ministry. In the late 4th/early 5th century synagogue, we read from Mark 1, 2; Luke 7, 8; and John 6. We also saw the Byzantine church, octagonal in shape, that dates to about the same time period. This ancient church surrounds a 1st century house structure suggested, by tradition and archaeology, to be Peter’s house. Down on the lakeshore, we read from Mark 9. Serving in Christ’s kingdom requires a heart of humility and servanthood.

Ancient Boat / Boat Ride

We ended the day by driving to Nof Ginnosar on the western side of the lake. In the museum here we saw an ancient 1st century wooden boat that was discovered in 1986. We then walked out to the dock for our own boat ride. We enjoyed about an hour of sailing. We also read Mark 4 and Matthew 14 (the two storm narratives). We were inspired to keep our eyes on Jesus! He is the One who brings peace to our lives!

We drove back to our hotel at En Gev following our boat ride. We enjoyed dinner together followed by a free evening. What a great day re-tracing Jesus’ footsteps! We check out of our hotel tomorrow morning and begin our travel south to the Dead Sea!

Day 6 – Thursday, May 9: Beth Shean, Shiloh, Jericho, Judean Desert, Ein Bokek, Dead Sea

Today we drove south. Our end-of-day destination was the southern end of the Dead Sea (Ein Bokek). Once again, we made many biblical connections with the sites we visited. The weather was on the warm side, with full sun and highs around 100 by the time we got to Jericho. We read from Matthew 5-7 as well as the kingdom parables from Matthew 13 after we loaded the bus and departed the hotel at 7:30.

Beth Shean

Leaving Ein Gev, we traveled south of the Sea of Galilee nearly 20 miles through the Jordan Valley to Beth Shean. This ancient site is an incredibly large site, with many ruins from the Roman Period. We saw colonnaded streets, the bathhouse, agora, public latrenes, and the theater. Some in the group climbed to the top of the OT site. According to 1 Samuel 31 (and 1 Chronicles 10), the body of Saul was hung on the walls of the town square after he died on near by Mt. Gilboa. The men from Jabesh Gilead (located on the east side of the Jordan Valley), came at night to rescue the body of Saul. Once again after everyone returned to the visitor center, Shlomo (thanks Amiel!) treated us to ice cream again!

Shiloh

Next, we drove into the Hill Country of Ephraim/Samaria to Shiloh. When we arrived, we saw a hologram about the Tabernacle. Then we made our way up this ancient site where the Tabernacle once stood here for over 300 years. It was destroyed by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). We watched a short movie about the events that took place here. We also read from 1 Samuel 3 (the call of Samuel) and Jeremiah 7. Among the ruins we saw a massive Middle Bronze wall that was incorporated into the Israelite site. Other structures, including perhaps the Holy of Holies area (as proposed by archaeologist Dr. Scott Stripling) could also be seen. It was young Samuel who said, “Hineni” (“Here I am!”) When God called Him into service. Others like Moses (Exodus 3), Abraham (Genesis 22), and Isaiah (Is. 6) used this word. The author of Hebrews (in Hebrews 10) even quotes from Psalm 40 where the word appears there also.

Jericho

From Shiloh we took a unique road through the Parat Desert (part of the Judean Desert) on our way to Jericho. We past by Bethel (Genesis 12) and Mishmash (1 Samuel 13-14) before descending down to the Parat (Jeremiah 13). We even saw a few gazelles! We finally arrived at Jericho. After a late lunch we visited Tel es-Sultan, or Old Testament Jericho. We first looked east and could see the Jordan Valley, with Mt. Nebo on the ridge on the horizon (Dt. 34). Elijah was taken to heaven in the area across the river (2 Kings 2). Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River at “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (John 1). Looking south we could see the area of NT Jericho (where Zacchaeus and Bartimeaus lived, and where Herod the Great died in 4 BC). We then turned our attention to the ancient OT site of Jericho. The archaeology of this ancient site of Jericho supports and confirms the Bible’s historicity. Besides seeing the oldest structure (a round tower) in Israel, on the southern end we saw the double retaining walls of this Canaanite city taken my Joshua (Joshua 6). A mud brick wall once stood on top of these stone walls. They came tumblin down. We even blew the shofar that we had with us.

Dead Sea

Driving about an hour south along the western side was beautiful. We arrived at our hotel at Ein Bokek located on the Dead Sea. After checking in we enjoyed floating on this unique body of water (33% salt and minerals). We had dinner and we overnighted here.

Day 7 – Friday, May 10: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Wilderness of Judah, Jerusalem

Today was our hottest day, with sunny skies and highs around 100. This is to be expected here this time of year along the Dead Sea on the edge of the Judean Desert. We spent the entire day in the desert before arriving in Jerusalem in the Hill Country of Judah tonight. We read from Psalm 18 (Masada is metzada in Hebrew, 18:2) as we departed the hotel this morning shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Masada

We drove north about 15 minutes to get to the eastern side of Masada, a palace-fortress built by King Herod in the 30s BC. We all took the cable car to the top. Among the ruins we saw the casemate wall, huge cisterns, the synagogue, the northern palace, storehouses, and the bathhouse. The courageous story of Masada (with 967 using the site as a place of refuge) is both incredible and inspiring! We all took the cable car down (since the Snake Path was already closed due to the heat) and loaded in our bus.

Ein Gedi

From here we drove further north along the western shoreline of the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi. Together we walked into the canyon (Wadi David) where we stopped to read from Song of Songs 1 (mentioning the henna blossoms), 2 Chronicles 20 (mentioning the Ascent of Ziz), and 1 Samuel 24 (the David and Saul “cave encounter”). Many of the group walked back to the far water falls while others enjoyed the first falls. Some in the group enjoyed getting wet under the waterfalls! It was a amazingly refreshing experience!

Qumran

About a 25 minute drive further north took us to where the most significant discovery in all of Israel were found in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran. We arrived here for a late lunch. Most in the group skipped lunch and hiked up to see Cave 6 (one of 12 caves in which fragment of scrolls were found) and the unique aqueduct tunnel. After lunch, we visited the site itself where we saw many miqvot (plural for mikve, or ritual baths), cisterns, and the scriptorium. In front of Cave 4 (and 5 & 10), we read from Psalm 19 and “151,” an extra psalm found here. We also remembered 2 Timothy 3:16 about God’s inspired Word. Thanks be to God for the preservation of His Word and the joy, instruction, direction, and hope it provides us!

Wadi Qelt

On our way to Jerusalem we made a brief stop to overlook the area of the Wadi Qelt/Judean Desert. We uniquely heard “the prophet Isaiah” (whoever he was) share the opening words of Isaiah 40 with us. Shlomo also sang Psalm 23 in Hebrew. Even though the desert is such an arid place, the view was beautiful!

Jerusalem

Continuing our drive west to the Hill Country of Judah, we arrived in Jerusalem where we checked in early into our hotel (an upgrade to the Dan Panorama). Following some rest time and then a very good “Shabbat” dinner, many of us walked to the Western Wall. The experience was surreal! We are looking forward to our first full day here in Jerusalem tomorrow.

Day 8 – Saturday, May 11: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Herodium, Bethlehem

This was our first day in Jerusalem. This capital city of Israel is full of history and archaeology that connects us to the Bible. The weather was perfect, with partly sunny skies and highs around 80. We read from Psalm 122 and 125 as we left the hotel at 7:30.

Mt. of Olives/Gethsemane

Our first stop of the day was the Mt. of Olives. We drove around the north side of the Old City, passing the Damascus and Herod Gates on the way. Cresting the Mt. of Olives we drove to a spectacular view across the Kidron Valley of the Old City and Temple Mount below. From here we walked down to Dominus Flavet, a small chapel where we enjoyed singing a few songs together. Here we read from Luke 19 (Palm Sunday), Acts 1 (Christ’s ascension), and Zechariah 14 (about the return of Christ). Continuing down the slope towards the Church of All Nations (the traditional Garden of Gethsemane), we walked up to an olive tree park where we considered the passion of Jesus (Luke 22). Somewhere on these slopes Jesus prayed, “Not my will but Yours be done!”

Herodium

From the bottom of the Mt. of Olives we drove south on the Bethlehem-Hebron road until we turned east to Herodium. This was a palace-fortress built by Herod the Great. He was also buried in 4 BC. The site was incredible, with many new renovations and displays. Inside the well-preserved official’s chamber where we saw a wonderful presentation. We then walked up through the royal arches to the top where we saw the bathhouse, synagogue, impressive frescoes, and a great view of Jerusalem. We left the site by carefully walking down through the cistern system.

Bethlehem/Shepherd’s Fields

From Herodium we drove into Bethlehem. An eastern Christian town, Beit Sahour is where we had a great lunch. Also here we visited the Shepherds’ Fields. We sat in a large cave where we read from Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus. It was “just at the right time God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4). We also sang a few carols in the Chapel of the Shepherds. We also sang a few carols and songs in the Shepherds’ Chapel.

From here we drove back into Bethlehem and visited an olive wood factory and story (Nissan Brothers). These olive wood products were impressive and so well crafted.

From the store, we drove back to our hotel. On the way, we made a brief stop in Shlomo’s community. It was fun to see where he lives. Back at our hotel in Jerusalem we enjoyed dinner and a free evening.

Day 9 – Sunday, May 12: Yad VaShem, Israel Museum, Shephelah

Our morning started, as usual, with breakfast at 6:30, followed by a 7:30 a.m. departure. We are pretty used to it now! The weather was once again perfect, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 70s. We read from Psalm 137 as we left for our first site, Yad VaShem, a solemn and reflective place.

Yad Vashem

Our first stop in the morning required us to drive to West Jerusalem. Here we visited the Israel’s Holocaust Museum & Memorial. It is called Yad Vashem, named after a verse in Isaiah 56:5 that mentions the “memorial and a name.” We first visited the Valley of the Communities. Here we heard the personal story from Shlomo about his family during this tragic event. He lost 12 family members in Vilna, Poland (pictured). We then walked through the Children’s Memorial and the museum itself. It was a somber experience recalling the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of six million Jews.

Israel Museum

Just a short distance away (still in Western Jerusalem) is the Israel Museum. Because the Museum as closed, Shlomo was still able to get us in to see the 1:50 scale model of 2nd Temple Jerusalem. We retraced the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem and in the Temple.

Gezer

In the afternoon, we descended west to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah. Our first stop was Tel Gezer. Located on the Aijalon Valley, this was both a Canaanite and Israelite city, full of walls, towers, and gates. We saw the replica of the “Gezer Calendar.” We also read from Ecclesiastes 3 about the “seasons of life.” From the observation mound we saw the Aijalon Valley mentioned in Joshua 10. Among the Middle Bronze ruins many of us used the new steel stairway down to the bottom of the water system (175 steps down). This water system was originally used by Canaanites. We then left these Canaanite ruins and continued to the Israelite (Iron Age) area to see ancient house structures and a chambered gate dating to Solomon (1 Kings 9). Walking back to the bus we saw the Canaanite high place and standing stones.

Beth Shemesh

From here we continued south to visit the site of Beth Shemesh. Located along the Sorek Valley, Beth Shemesh was a prominent Israelite town known for their many water cisterns. Across the valley is Zorah, the hometown of Samson (Judges 13-16). Further west down the valley was the Philistine city of Timnah where Samson’s first wife was from (only 3.5 miles away). We also read the narrative of 1 Samuel 6 about the Ark of the Covenant being returned to Israel by the Philistines living in Ekron. We could see the story unfold right before our very eyes! The battle between Amaziah and Joash also took place here (2 Chronicles 25).

Beit Guvrin

We added an extra stop this afternoon and went to Beit Guvrin. In the days of the Old Testament, this was called Mareshah. It was the home of Micah, the prophet. After driving past this site, we continued to the Bell Cave. It is carved out of the softer limestone. The cave was fascinating to see.

Socoh

From here, we drove back north to the site of Tel Socoh. This ancient city located along the heart of the Elah Valley has been not excavated, yet mentioned in the story of 1 Samuel 17 (the Philistines camped on the ride between Azekah and Socoh). It was in the narrow part of the valley where David battled Goliath. David faced the battle with this giant in the confidence of the Lord! We can face our battles with the same confidence!

We returned back to the Hill Country of Judah by taking a unique two-land road back to Jerusalem and our hotel. Following dinner, we enjoyed another optional walk to see the rolling stone in front of Herod the Great’s family tomb. At 8 p.m., we stood in silence in honor of the fallen soldiers of Israel since 1948. Tonight and tomorrow is Israel’s Memorial Day (called Yom HaZikaron in Hebrew), a solemn day, especially in light of al the IDF soldiers who have died in the ongoing war in Gaza and in the north.

Day 10 – Monday, May 13: Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church, Garden Tomb, City of David, Southern Wall Excavations, Holy Sepulcher Church

Today was our last full day here in Israel. All but one of us will be flying early tomorrow morning to Athens, Greece for the optional extension. This final day here in Jerusalem included more archaeology, adventure, worship & Communion, and many connections with the Bible. The weather started a bit cool (50s), but it warmed up to close to the mid 60s in the afternoon. We read from Psalm 48 as we left the hotel at 7:30 once again.

Pools of Bethesda / St. Anne’s Church

We drove to the NE corner of the Old City where we were dropped off.  We walked to the Eastern (Golden) Gate to get a up-close view of this closed gate before entering the Lion’s Gate (St. Stephen’s, Jericho) to the Pools of Bethesda. Here we read from John 5 about Jesus healing the paralytic. On the same grounds as this archaeological site is St. Anne’s Church. We enjoyed the 7-8 second echo as we sang a few songs in this Crusader church.

Garden Tomb

We then walked through the Muslim Quarter and out the Damascus Gate to the Garden Tomb. Located north of the Old City, this is an alternative “Protestant” location for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. We saw the rocky scarp (Golgotha) and the proposed tomb. A special time of worship and Communion followed. We worship the Person, not the place.

City of David

We got back on the bus and drove to the southern side of the Old City where we entered the City of David. After gathering on the observation tower, we walked down through the excavations (“Area G”). We saw David’s palace, city walls, and 7th-6th BC house structures (one of them was excavated/uncovered by Dr. John in June-July, 1982). We all continued through Warren’s Shaft (2 Samuel 5). The upper part of this discovery was probably used by David but not the vertical 52 foot shaft. Finally, we descended down to the Canaanite/Jebusite pool to the Gihon Spring. Following seeing a new movie about the tunnel, everyone in the group braved the waters of the 1,710 foot-long Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32). At the Pool of Siloam is where we read John 9 in dramatic fashion. The excavation of the Pool of Siloam continues to expose more and more of the original steps.

Southern Wall Excavations

From here, most in the group walked through the stone “Drainage Tunnel” underneath the pavement that dates to 30 AD. Others short a taxi to the SW corner of the Temple. Here, we walked on the Herodian pavement underneath what is left of an archway discovered by Edward Robinson in 1838. This SW corner of the Temple may have been the pinnacle of the Temple where Jesus was tempted (Mt. 4). We walked up the southern steps used by commoners in Jesus’ day. Jesus Himself would have used these steps to enter the Temple. We recalled the many mentioned in the NT who used these steps (Luke 2, 18; John 2; Mark 13; and Acts 2, etc…). Before leaving the steps, we considered how God wants us to be His spiritual temple (2 Corinthians 3).

Holy Sepulcher Church / Free Time

Following a time of reflection and prayer on the steps, we walked “up” to the Christian Quarter of the Old City. We went inside the Holy Sepulcher Church. Built in 325 AD, this is the traditional location for the death and burial place of Jesus. The archaeological and historical records favor this site. We saw the Edicule that has enclosed the suggested tomb of Christ for now nearly 1600 years. Some even went inside the the suggested tomb of Christ. To end the day, we enjoyed some free time in the Christian Quarter.

We returned to our hotel for our “Farewell Dinner” and an early bedtime since we leave for the Tel Aviv Airport in the early morning hours. It was a great Israel trip of a lifetime!

Day 11 – Tuesday, May 14: Greece Optional Extension: Athens

The day started early (a 4 am departure from the hotel) for everyone but one of us who flew to Athens today. Mike was the only one who caught his earlier morning flight back to the U.S. The flight to Athens went well. When we arrived, the weather in Greece was partly cloudy but pleasant, with highs in the low 70s.

Athens

We arrived at about 9:20 a.m.in Athens where we met Takis, our agent, and our driver (Nikos). We boarded the bus and drove to the area of the city center where we met our wonderful and sweet Greek guide, Aliki.

Acropolis

The Acropolis is the archaeological and ancient cultural highlight of Athens. Following a quick bite to eat at the base of the Acropolis, we walked slowly up the steps of the Propylaea (gateway/entrance) to the top. Here we saw the Erechtheion. This was a most important temple dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and Erechtos. The Parthenon is the most identifiable structure on top. It was built with 17 pillars on the long side and 8 on the short side (based on the classic ratio). The columns are of the Doric order. It was finished in 10 years (447-438 BC). Another 5-6 years was spent in decoration. In 432 BC it was finally completed. The architects were the best Greece could offer. Phidias was one of the supervisors. 4000 people worked on the Parthenon. It was not built by slaves but rather by the best of Greeks. The Athena statue stood inside the temple. It was 40 feet tall. 5000 pieces of marble taken in early 19th century by Englishmen. This collection is now displayed in the British museum.

Rock of Aeropagus/Mars Hill

We met at the bottom of the Acropolis and walked together up to the Rock of Aeropagus (Mars Hill). This is where Paul spoke of his faith to the “high court” of the day. With the Acropolis above us and the agora (marketplace), Stoa, and other temples below us, we could almost hear Paul’s words as he spoke His word in reference to the “Unknown God” of Athens. We read his words shared precisely at this location from Acts 17. Dionysius and Damaris and “a number of others” (v.34) who listened to Paul came to faith in Christ! It was incredible to hear this three minute summary of Paul’s defense of his faith here!

City Bus Tour of Athens

We boarded the bus for a brief city tour of Athens. We saw The Temple of Zeus, the Arch of Hadrian, the Olympic Stadium (restored and used in the 1896 Olympics), and Constitution Square. We also saw impressive neo-classical buildings of the 19th century (e.g. Science & Art, Education, and National Library buildings).

Constitution Square 

We checked into our hotel around 3:15 p.m. After a much-needed rest/nap, most in the group met at 5:35 to walk to Constitution Square. We saw the changing of the guards at 6 p.m. We walked back to the hotel for dinner at 6:30 p.m. It’s exciting to be here in Greece and we look forward to seeing some of the country tomorrow on our drive north to the classic site of Delphi.

Day 12 – Wednesday, May 15: Delphi, Athens

We left from our hotel shortly after 7:30 a.m. following breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel. It provided an incredible view of the Acropolis of Athens. The weather was very nice, with clouds and sun as we drove NW to one of the most classic Greek sites Delphi. We read from Ephesians 1 as we left.

Delphi

We began the day be driving out of Athens. The route became much more scenic as we turned off the national highway to head towards the high Parnassos Mountain range. After a short rest stop, we arrived in Delphi to see the archaeological site and museum.

We first visited the archaeological site. We ascended through the Agora (marketplace) and theTreasury to the famous Temple of Apollo. Higher up the site was the theater. Unfortunately, the pathway up to the intact well-preserved stadium was closed. Paul captured the culture by exhorting Christ followers to “run the race well…” (1  Corinthians 9). The Pythian Games were held here in Delphi every four years in honor of Apollo. Below on the other side was where the gymnasium was located. Instead of seeing the stadium, we visited the Temple of Athena on the other side of the road instead after our visit to the museum.

Delphi was known in this classical period of Greece as the place of oracles. The women who shared oracles were call Pythia. Acts 16:16 uses the same word. Paul and Silas preached that accepting Christ as spoken in the very Word (e.g. oracle) of God and trusting in God’s Spirit is what gives purpose and direction for our lives! God also accepts us as as redeemed by Christ by virtue of His sacrifice. We are encouraged to live as a “living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1-2).

Following our visit to the site, we walked through the museum. Many impressive artifacts are displayed here, including the famous bronze charioteer (dating to 476 BC), and the Gallio Inscription. It dates to 52 AD, precisely when Paul was in Corinth. This was written by a scribe named Claudius who mentions “my friend Gallio the proconsul of Achaia.” Luke mentions him as the one who addressed Paul from the Bema in Corinth (Acts 18:14-16).

Lunch & Athens

Just outside the town of Delphi we visited a wonderful Greek restaurant for a late lunch. Many had lamb chops, Greek salad or Moussaka. We drove back to Athens the same way. A few in the group ventured up to the top of Mt. Lycabetus following dinner. What a stunning night view of the city of Athens (5.5 million people)!

Day 13 – Thursday, May 16: Corinth, Mycenae, Cenchrea, Athens

Today we drove south to the Peloponnese of Greece. Once again we left at 7:30 a.m. following our “balcony breakfast.” The weather was once again pleasant, but the skies were overcast (with some breaks of sun in the afternoon) and a bit dusty because of the unique wind patterns from the African desert. High temps were in the mid 70s. We read from 1 Corinthians 3 (about being the ‘temple of God’) as we left the hotel.

Corinthian Canal

We drove south out of Athens to the Peloponnese of Greece. First we stopped at the famous Corinthian Canel. It was built over a 11 year span (1882-1893) and is 3.8 miles long, 85 feet wide, 300 feet deep, with the water level around 26 feet. We enjoyed coffee here too.

Ancient Corinth

We then drove another 15 minutes to the ancient site of ancient Corinth. This huge city (400 – 500,000 at its peak) was the once glorious city near the Isthmus where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Word of God. Among the ruins we saw the Temple of Apollo (one of 14 total pagan temples), the forum (agora in Greek), and the bema (judgement seat). During Paul’s stay here during his 2nd mission journey, he wrote letters to the Thessalonica church. During his brief stay here at the end of his 3rd mission journey, we wrote Romans. It was delivered by Phoebe (Romans 16). We read from Acts 18 about Gallio and 2 Corinthians 4. We also walked down to the area of the theater where we saw the Erastus Inscription (he donated his own money for the public works, see Romans 16:23). Before leaving Corinth we drove to the Acropolis for a peak of the Temple of Aphrodite and a spectacular view of the plain of Corinth below.

Mycenae

We returned to the ancient Corinth area where we enjoyed a gyro (yiro) from a local restaurant. Wow, was it good! Following this lunch stop, we drove to Mycenae. Much of what we saw dates from 1,350 – 1,200 BC. At the site we saw the famous Lion’s Gate (1,250 BC), the shaft tombs (where over 13 pounds of gold was found in the 1870s excavations), the palace area, and the cistern. We also saw the Bee Hive tomb of King Agamemnon (or the Treasury of Atreus). We enjoyed singing in the tomb. ????

Cenchrea

Leaving Mycenae, we started our way back to our hotel in Athens for a late dinner. But before leaving the area of Corinth we made a brief stop at Cenchreae (Acts 18) on the way. This was the harbor Paul used to sail to Ephesus and eventually back to Caesarea. Here Paul cut his hair because of the Nazarite vow he had made (Numbers 6:18). Phoebe also served the church established here (Romans 16:1). As a bonus, we spent about 30 minutes swimming in the port here (the Aegean Sea). We wondered if Paul did the same thing? It was delightful even though the water was a little cool.

We arrived back at the hotel in Athens for dinner and a free evening. We are looking forward to our one-day ferry excursion tomorrow to three islands.

Day 14 – Friday, May 17: Greek Island Cruise Day to Hydra, Poros, Aegina

Our last day here in Greece was a fun one! We enjoyed a one-day cruise on a small ferry ship on the Aegean Sea! The weather was overcast once again (with a few brighter moments), with cooler temps in the morning (especially with the breeze on the ship) but warmer temps in the afternoon. The high temp reached the mid 70s. It did actually shower a little on our last leg back on the ship.

Hydra, Poros, Aegina

Following breakfast we boarded the bus and drove to Piraeus, Athen’s harbor (Paul probably sailed into this area from the north). Our agent Aris accompanied us for the entire day. Throughout the day we visited three islands, Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. These destinations are the classic Greek islands with spectacular beautiful! We got off at each of these these quaint ports and explored on our own. We experienced a close-up taste of Greek culture, food, and shopping. It was a relaxing day before our long flight hoe tomorrow morning.

About 8:30 p.m. we returned to our hotel in Athens for dinner and overnight. We leave really early (3 a.m.) for our flight to Rome and then back to the U.S.

Day 15 – Saturday, May 18: Flight Home from Athens, Arrival back in the U.S.

Following our morning flights home, we all made it back to the States safely. What a great trip with a great group!

Hike Up Arbel

One of our optional hikes is to the top of Mt. Arbel. Located on the NW corner of the Sea of Galilee, the hike offers a wonderful view of the region. We ascend 800 feet to the top (for those not inclined to hike the bus takes people to the top from the other side).

The cliffs of Arbel has historical significance too. Jews during both the 1st century BC and later in 66 AD found refuge in these caves.