The northern region of the land — hill country and a freshwater lake, ringed by Gentile territory, which is why Isaiah 9:1 calls it 'Galilee of the nations'. It was fertile, densely settled, and politically restless: Judas the Galilean's tax revolt of AD 6 began there, and the word 'Galilean' carried in Jerusalem roughly the tone of a provincial accent — Peter's own speech gives him away in the high priest's courtyard. Almost all of Jesus' ministry happens here, all of the Twelve but perhaps one come from here, and the men in white at the ascension address the whole future church by the name of a backwater: 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?'