The day has arrived, and we depart the United States on an overnight journey from TPA to Israel! If you purchased the domestic ground transfers and airfare package, your bus transfer from Grace Community Church to TPA and your airfare from TPA to TLV is included.

Today we arrive in Israel at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, where we will meet our guide, board our modern, deluxe motorcoach, and transfer to our hotel near the ancient town of Joppa, where Peter had his vision on the roof top of the house of Simon the Tanner. Enjoy a group dinner at our hotel for the evening. Overnight Tel Aviv. D.

After breakfast, we drive by the ruins of the ancient port of Joppa, where Jonah set sail for Tarshish. Next, we travel towards Caesarea Maritima, where we visit this magnificent city with its Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will discuss the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to Christianity, and the travels of Paul – events that led Caesarea Maritima to become a springboard of the Gospel’s spread to the West. Our next stop is Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal. In the afternoon, we visit Tel Megiddo, where we take in beautiful views of the Armageddon Valley. We then drive to our hotel on the Sea of Galilee! Overnight Sea of Galilee. B, D.

Today, we begin our day on the Mount of Beatitudes, where we will discuss the Sermon on the Mount. We then visit Capernaum, Jesus’ Galilean ministry base, where we see the Synagogue and the house of Peter’s mother-in-law, in addition to other ruins of the village. We visit Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus restored Peter after his three denials (time-permitting), before continuing on to Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene. In the afternoon, we get to enjoy sailing on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of a fishing boat used in the 1^st Century AD. Our final stop will be the Jordan River, where you will get a chance to be baptized! Overnight Sea of Galilee. B, D.

This morning, we visit Mt. Arbel, which provides a panoramic view of the entire region of Galilee, stretching from the Golan Heights to the Jordan River Valley. Next, we drive to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus. In Nazareth, we will begin our tour with a visit to Mount Precipice, where the townspeople attempted to throw Jesus off the cliff after he preached gospel mercy to the Gentiles. Next, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well, sites which commemorate the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the Christ Child. We end the day with a visit to Nazareth Village, which is a re-creation of Nazareth during biblical times. Overnight Sea of Galilee. B, D.

Today, we leave the area of Galilee, following the Jordan Valley Road south to Beth Shean, the capital of the Decapolis. There we will see the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine cities. We will also discuss the demise of King Saul and his sons, whose bodies were hanged on the walls of Beth Shean. We continue south to the Tel of Jericho, with its ancient ruins, pointing out what possibly could be the foundations of the ramparts that Joshua and the Israelites brought down. This is also the city where Jesus had his famous encounter with Zacchaeus! After lunch, we drive by Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered (stopping by the roadside to view the site, no entry).  Arrive early in the afternoon at the Dead Sea for a floating experience, enjoying the mineral-rich mud of this unique body of water while overlooking the mountains of Moab—where Ruth the Moabitess originally came from. Overnight Dead Sea. B, D.

This morning we visit Masada, taking a cable car up to the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD during their standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We continue to Ein Gedi, the desert oasis where David had his encounter with King Saul and where he wrote many of the psalms. Next, enjoy lunch and a camel ride at Genesis Land (included). In the afternoon, we visit the Mount Scopus Overlook with a breathtaking view over Jerusalem. This is same area where Abraham met Melchizedek in Genesis 14. We end our day with prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night before his crucifixion. Overnight Jerusalem. B, L, D.

This morning, we visit the Tomb of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Then we travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We visit the Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of the Savior. These fields are also the setting of some of the events of the Book of Ruth. After lunch, we travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the actual place where, according to ancient tradition, Jesus was born. We will also have time for Olive Wood shopping before driving to the Elah Valley, where David fought Goliath. Overnight Jerusalem. B, D.

We start the day at the City of David, the original location of ancient Jerusalem, where we explore the origins of the city, going back 3,000 years in history. We walk through the dry, Canaanite Tunnel, which was created by the Canaanites for irrigation purposes around 1800 BC. We visit the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man (John 9). We visit the Southern Wall excavations of the Temple Mount and gather at the teaching steps, where we remember the events of Pentecost, before proceeding to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. After lunch, we will visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the church which commemorates Peter’s denial of Christ and which is believed to be the site of the House of Caiaphas. We see a pit where Jesus would have been held after his arrest. Next, we take in views of Jerusalem from the Belvedere Overlook. Overnight Jerusalem. B, D.

We begin the day with a visit to the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralyzed man. We will then walk the Way of Cross, through the Jaffa Gate, to the Praetorium (according to Kathleen Kenyon), ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and of the open tomb. In the afternoon, we will visit the Garden Tomb, where we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together and have a final opportunity to meditate on the resurrection in a peaceful setting. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers. Overnight Jerusalem. B, D.

Today, we will make our way to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, where we will begin our journey home, filled with wonderful memories of the Holy Land! If you purchased the domestic ground transfers and airfare package, upon arrival in the US, your bus transfer from TPA to Grace Community Church is included.