Page 13 - Life of Christ w videos

area of about a square mile. At intervals along the wall were massive gateways. Just inside each gate
was a customs station, where publicans collected taxes on all goods entering or leaving the city.
During feasts or festivals, the enormous crowd of pilgrims into the Holy City inflated its population of
25,000 to at least four or five times that number. This brought an important stimulus to the city's
economy. This created a huge demand for food, lodging and sacrificial animals.

The overcrowding and the excitement of the festivals frequently led to outbreaks of violence and anti-
Roman rebellion. On more than one occasion the huge mass of pilgrims had been stirred up by zealous
nationalists or would-be Messiahs. For this reason, the Roman governor made a point of being present
during these occasions, and extra soldiers were stationed at strategic locations throughout the city.

Locate Jerusalem on the map. It is 80 miles due south of Nazareth. Samaria lies between Nazareth and
Jerusalem. Locate Samaria. Find Sychar or Sychor. Jacob dug a well here. This was the capital city of
Samaria and the city where Jesus will meet a special person as we study the Gospel of John.

2.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What is the Diaspora?

2. Why did Jews and Samaritans dislike one another?

3. What was the purpose of the synagogue?

4. Describe the Pharisees and what they believed?

5. Describe the Sadducees and what they believed?

6. What was the Sanhedrin and why was it important?

7. Why was Herod the Great a significant person in the Gospels?

8. Describe the people who lived in Nazareth.

9. Why was Bethlehem a significant city in Palestine at the time of Christ?

10. During the life of Christ, what was the most significant building in Jerusalem and why?

11. During a feast in Jerusalem, what would the population of people swell to?

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