Google Earth Bookmarks for New Testament Sites

The free Google Earth software program must be installed to use the following bookmarks. I for the best views of each site I recommend turning off all of the Google Earth layers (bottom left-hand corner of the program) except “Terrain” (which will show mountains and valleys, etc. in 3D). For learning more about each site and seeing photographs of the surrounding areas you might want to turn on the “Geographic Web” and “Google Earth Community” layers.

Upon left-clicking on the links below you will be asked to OK opening the file. Then I recommend that you open the file with Google Earth (which should be listed as an option). The file will be opened in the “Temporary Files” section under “Places” on the left-hand side of the Google Earth screen. You should drag or save the folders so that they are saved under “My Places.” Please let me know of any errors you find and feel free to send me other bookmarks you think I should include.

· Places mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. Comments:

o Although we do not know where Joseph took the family in Egypt, Alexandria, the second largest city in the Empire, is a possibility.

o Sepphoris was a Hellenistic town near Nazareth. We don’t know if Jesus ever visited, but he might have.

o A few different places have been suggested as the location where John baptized Jesus. I visit a couple different possibilities.

o Mountains play a key role in the Gospel. It is not always clear which mountain is in mind)

o Several cities of the Decapolis (from whence we are told crowds came to see Jesus) are included.

· Paul’s Earliest Ministry Travels

o I believe Paul went to Arabia to begin his evangelistic ministry, not for meditation in isolation. I have included a few of the Nabatean cities and towns (of the Roman province of Arabia) where he might have evangelized.

o I then follow him to Jerusalem, Caesarea, Tarsus and Antioch

· Paul’s First Missionary Journey

o Besides the places mentioned in the book of Acts, I visit a couple of ancient cities near to the itinerary that Paul either visited or merely passed by.

· Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (NOTE: for some unknown reason, Lystra and Derbe change places on the file when it is uploaded. After downloading the file to your computer you will want to drag Derbe above Lystra so that it comes before it in the sequence.

o Besides the places mentioned in the book of Acts, I visit a couple of ancient cities near to the itinerary that Paul either visited or merely passed by.

· Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

o Besides the places mentioned in the book of Acts, I visit a couple of ancient cities near to the itinerary that Paul either visited or merely passed by.

· Paul’s Journey to Rome

o Besides the places mentioned in the book of Acts, I visit a couple of ancient cities near to the itinerary that Paul either visited or merely passed by.

· Cities of Asia

o These are the cities of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation and in Paul’s Letters