Matthew, born in Palestine sometime in the 1st century CE, was one of the least known of the apostles, and a collector of customs at Capernaum, also known as Tell Hum, Khirbet Karazeh, Bethsaida, Kefar
Nahum, Capharnaum, Chorazim, Kafarnaum, Kefar Tanhum, Talhum, Tanhum.
Capernaum, in existence from the 2nd BC to the 7thCE, was built along the edge of the Sea of Galilee.
Today its ruins are owned by two churches: the Franciscans control the Western portion with the synagogue and the Greek Orthodox's property is marked by the white church with red domes.
Matthew wrote in Hebrew about an oracle that Jesus said:"A man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10:36)
Jesus made Capernaum his home during the years of his ministry. Matthew 4 says: "When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He went away to Galilee. He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulum and Naphtali. This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said, 'Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the road to the Sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles! The people who live in Darkness will see a great Light. On those who live in the Dark Land of Death the Light will shine.' From that time Jesus began to preach His Message: 'Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near.'" (Matthew 4: 12-17)
"Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness." (Matthew 4: 23)
"The news about Him spread through the whole country of Syria, so that people brought to Him all those who were sick, suffering from all kinds of diseases and disorders: people with demons, and epileptics, and paralytics -and Jesus healed them all."
Syria has been known as the cradle of prophets and apostles and the center from which the Good News grew, starting in Antioch (in Syria), and went to all over the World, paving the Way of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through time and reaching our generation. God spoke on Mount Horeb, Hermon, and Golgotha, and most of the prophecies related to Syria were fulfilled. We are informed through the Scripture about the history and privileges of what God has done through all of Syria and to the whole World.
Matthew10 says, "Jesus called His 12 disciples and gave them "authority to drive out evil spirits" and to "heal every disease and every sickness." ... "These 12 men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: 'Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns. Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel... Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid. ... When you come to a town or village, go in and look for someone who is willing to welcome you, and stay with him until you leave that place. ... And if some home or town will not welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place and shake the dust off your feet. I assure you that on the Day of Judgment God will show more mercy to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that to the people of that town! ... I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves. Watch out, for there will be those who will arrest you and take you to court, and they will whip you in the synagogues. For my sake you will be brought to trial before rulers and kings, to tell the Good News to them and to the Gentiles. ... the Words you will speak will not be yours; they will come from the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. People will hand over their own brothers to be put to death, and fathers will do the same to their children; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. ... But whoever holds out to the end will be saved. ... If the head of the family is called Beel'Zebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names! ... Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell. ... Those who declare publicly that they belong to Me, I will do the same for them before My Father in heaven. But those who reject me publicly, I will reject before My Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring Peace to the World. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a Sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law; your worst enemies will be the members of your own household.'"
"Those who love their father or mother more than Me are not fit to be My disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than Me are not fit to be MY disciples. Those who do not take up their cross and follow in My steps are not fit to be My disciples. ... Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. ... You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these My followers because he is My follower, will certainly receive a reward."
