Evidence of ancient boating activity due to the warmer water that comes from several nearby springs on the northwestern shore of Galilee (Arabic name= seven springs)
The Byzantines commemorated several events in Jesus’ life at Tabgha.
Political/Cultural Significance
There are two important churches in Tabgha. The Church of the Multiplication of Fishes and Loaves celebrates the Miracle of the Multiplication (Jesus feeding the 5,000), and the second, Peter’s Primacy, commemorates the story in John 21 where Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves Jesus. The current churches are both built on the remains of Byzantine churches (4th century AD)
Biblical Significance
Tabgha has traditionally been identified as the site where Jesus fed the 5,000 (Mark 6:30-44). However,Luke 9:10 and John 6:1 both indicate that that Jesus performed this miracle on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee
It may be the site where Jesus first called his disciples when they were fishing (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16)
John 21: 1-24 After Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee and presented them with a miraculous catch of fish. Three times Jesus asked the disciple Peter if he loved him, and after his reply of “You know that I love you,” Jesus commanded him to “Feed my sheep.”
