The Pool of Bethesda holds a deeply significant place in both biblical and archaeological history. Located near the Sheep Gate in the northeastern quarter of ancient Jerusalem, this site is explicitly mentioned in John 5:1–15 as the location where Jesus Christ performed a miraculous healing upon a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. Archaeological excavations have confirmed the existence of this pool complex, substantiating the biblical account and demonstrating the Gospel of John’s precise geographical and cultural accuracy. This confirmation is not only critical to biblical archaeology but also to the authenticity of the New Testament narrative itself.

The Biblical Context of the Pool

The Gospel of John records that during a Jewish festival, Jesus went up to Jerusalem and visited a site known as the “pool of Bethesda.” The text reads: “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes” (John 5:2). Within these porticoes lay a multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the withered, waiting for the stirring of the water. A man afflicted for thirty-eight years was there, and upon Jesus’ command, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk,” he was instantly healed (John 5:8–9). This event occurred on a Sabbath, triggering opposition from the Jewish leaders who accused Jesus of violating Sabbath law.

This record serves several theological purposes: it affirms Jesus’ divine authority, His compassion, and His sovereignty over the Sabbath. However, it also anchors the narrative within a precise urban setting. The accuracy of the topographical detail—the Sheep Gate and the five porticoes—was long viewed skeptically by critical scholars until modern archaeology revealed the physical reality of these structures.

The Archaeological Discovery

For centuries, critics claimed that the reference to a pool with “five porticoes” was symbolic or allegorical, arguing that such an architectural design was unknown in antiquity. This skepticism persisted until the late 19th century, when the site was excavated near the Church of St. Anne, just north of the Temple Mount. In 1888, German archaeologist Conrad Schick identified the remains of a double pool with a central dividing wall and surrounding porticoes, precisely matching the Johannine description. These discoveries were later confirmed and expanded by subsequent excavations in the 20th century, especially by scholars such as Kathleen Kenyon and others working under the auspices of the École Biblique.

The Pool of Bethesda consists of two large adjacent reservoirs separated by a dam-like partition, each approximately 50 by 60 meters. These pools were fed by natural springs and supplemented by aqueduct channels. Around the perimeter, colonnaded porticoes provided shelter, where invalids could recline. The fifth portico mentioned in John 5:2 refers not to a pentagonal structure, as once imagined, but to the colonnade running along the central partition between the two basins. Thus, the biblical description of “five porticoes” fits the archaeological layout exactly.

The Historical Development of the Site

The site evolved over several centuries. The earliest construction of the Bethesda complex dates to the 8th century B.C.E., during the time of King Hezekiah, when a reservoir system was established to ensure a secure water supply for the upper city. Later, during the Hellenistic period (c. 2nd century B.C.E.), the pools were expanded and monumentalized, taking on a dual function—both utilitarian and ritual. The name “Bethesda” (Hebrew Beit Ḥesda, meaning “House of Mercy” or “House of Outpouring”) may allude to its reputation as a healing site, possibly associated with the nearby Temple practices of purification.

By the 1st century B.C.E., the complex was integrated into Jerusalem’s growing northern quarter. During the Roman period, particularly under the rule of Herod the Great, further renovations occurred, reflecting Roman architectural influence with bath-like features and steps descending into the pools. Archaeological evidence indicates that the pools served both as a water reservoir for the city and as a ritual purification site (mikveh) for Jewish pilgrims ascending to the Temple Mount, which lay only a few hundred meters to the south.

The Interplay Between Pagan and Jewish Elements

During the 2nd century C.E., after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and Hadrian’s later reconstruction of the city as Aelia Capitolina, a healing sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine, was built atop the site. This transformation of a Jewish ritual pool into a pagan healing center reflects the spiritual transition of the city in the aftermath of Roman occupation. The pagan temple complex incorporated elements of the earlier pools and used the same healing associations that had long been attached to the site.

This development provides fascinating corroboration of the Gospel’s setting: even before Roman paganization, the pool was evidently regarded as a place of healing, whether through divine agency or natural properties attributed to the spring-fed waters. The reference in John 5:4 (a textual variant absent in the earliest manuscripts but preserved in later copies) describing an angel stirring the water reflects this local understanding of periodic healing phenomena associated with the pool’s water movements. While the earliest Greek manuscripts omit the verse, the tradition it represents harmonizes with the site’s reputation and the people’s belief in supernatural healing connected with the waters.

The Location Near the Sheep Gate

John’s precision in locating the pool “by the Sheep Gate” aligns with topographical data from Nehemiah 3:1 and 12:39, where the Sheep Gate is listed among the gates of the city near the northeast corner of the Temple complex. This area was historically associated with the slaughter and washing of sacrificial animals for Temple offerings, thus necessitating nearby water sources. The proximity of the Pool of Bethesda to this gate makes perfect logistical and ritual sense. The existence of the Sheep Gate, verified through archaeological correlation and ancient topographical studies, further strengthens the Gospel of John’s reliability in describing authentic Jerusalem geography.

The Church of St. Anne and Later Christian Commemoration

By the 5th century C.E., the site of the Pool of Bethesda had become a revered Christian pilgrimage location. A Byzantine basilica, known as the Church of the Paralytic, was built over the pools to commemorate the miracle performed by Jesus. The Crusaders later constructed the Romanesque Church of St. Anne in the 12th century, dedicated to the traditional birthplace of the Virgin Mary, which still stands today and preserves access to the ancient pool remains beneath it. Excavations under and around St. Anne’s Church expose the successive architectural layers: the ancient pools, Roman healing shrines, Byzantine churches, and medieval Crusader structures—all built upon the same sacred site.

This multi-layered continuity of sacred significance—Jewish, Roman, and Christian—illustrates the enduring historical memory of the place where Jesus’ miracle took place, confirming that Christian veneration developed precisely at the authentic location remembered from the Gospel record.

Theological Significance of the Miracle

The miracle at Bethesda was not merely an act of physical healing but a profound declaration of Jesus’ divine authority to restore life and health. The man had been disabled for thirty-eight years, symbolizing human incapacity apart from divine intervention. Jesus’ command to “Rise, take up your mat, and walk” demonstrates His power to renew life directly by His word, without reliance upon ritual or superstition. The healed man’s immediate obedience—rising and walking—proves the completeness of the miracle.

The subsequent controversy over healing on the Sabbath (John 5:10–18) reveals that Jesus’ authority transcends traditional legal restrictions. His declaration, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working,” affirms His unity with Jehovah in purpose and action. Thus, the Pool of Bethesda becomes the stage for a critical revelation of the Messiah’s divine identity and mission—to bring spiritual and physical restoration to those who trust in Him.

Archaeological Confirmation of the Gospel of John

The discovery of the Pool of Bethesda stands as one of the clearest archaeological validations of the historical reliability of the Gospel of John. For many centuries, liberal critics dismissed John as a late theological reflection with little connection to first-century Palestine. However, the uncovering of the Bethesda pools, along with other Johannine sites such as the Pool of Siloam (John 9) and Jacob’s Well (John 4), has decisively reversed this position. These discoveries demonstrate that the writer of John’s Gospel possessed intimate and accurate knowledge of Jerusalem’s topography prior to its destruction in 70 C.E. This confirms the Gospel’s eyewitness authenticity and its composition within the lifetimes of those who personally observed the events described.

The Pool of Bethesda in Modern Archaeological Study

Today, the Pool of Bethesda is one of Jerusalem’s most thoroughly excavated and accessible biblical sites. Visitors to the Church of St. Anne can descend into the archaeological area and view the exposed remains of the twin pools, their retaining walls, staircases, and surrounding porticoes. Stratigraphic analysis reveals construction phases spanning from the 8th century B.C.E. to the Roman and Byzantine periods, providing a continuous historical sequence that mirrors Jerusalem’s complex history. Pottery, coins, and architectural fragments from these layers enable precise dating of the site’s various reconstructions, confirming the 2nd century B.C.E.–1st century C.E. timeframe mentioned in the present study.

The Pool of Bethesda remains a striking testimony to the harmony between the biblical record and the material remains of ancient Jerusalem. It powerfully demonstrates that faith in Scripture’s historical accuracy is not misplaced but solidly supported by archaeology, geography, and textual integrity. In every respect, the Pool of Bethesda stands as a witness to the truthfulness of God’s inspired Word and the reality of His Son’s miraculous works.

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