What The Chosen Gets Right (And Wrong): Archaeology, Pharisees, and Color (Jeffrey Garcia) Ep. #225
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Was Peter’s hometown ever really lost—and have we just found it?
In this episode, archaeologist and scholar Dr. Jeffrey Arroyo García joins Dru Johnson to explore how archaeology reshapes our understanding of the Gospels, popular media like The Chosen, and the portrayal of first-century Judaism. Drawing on his years excavating at El-Araj—the site increasingly believed to be biblical Bethsaida—Jeff walks us through how ancient inscriptions, Crusader-era churches, and Roman bathhouses reveal the story beneath the shoreline.
But the episode takes a provocative turn when they discuss the show The Chosen. Jeff praises its storytelling and vibrancy but calls attention to a visual pattern with troubling roots: “The Pharisees are generally in black… And when they come into contact with Jesus… they wear lighter colors.” He explains how this “othering” of Pharisees—even subtly—echoes centuries of Christian anti-Jewish tropes.
The conversation is honest, layered, and generous—balancing artistic license with historical clarity. “If you are interested in Jesus or a follower of Jesus,” Jeff warns, “then you can’t be a Pharisee—just from clothing alone.”
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Chapters:
00:00 Exploring Archaeology and the Galilee
02:48 Pharisees and Their Presence in Galilee
05:40 The Search for Bethsaida
08:48 Significant Discoveries at El-Araj
11:30 Cultural Context and New Testament Insights
14:21 The Chosen: Storytelling and Historical Accuracy
17:31 Creative Speculation in Biblical Portrayals
20:37 The Role of Pharisees in the New Testament
23:23 Touring Israel: Insights and Experiences
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