What is a…
Galilean

also known as: Galilaean

Meaning: an inhabitant or native of Galilee

This word was used as a name of contempt as applied to our Lord’s disciples (Luke 22:59; Acts 2:7).

All the apostles, with the exception of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:11), were Galileans. Peter was detected by his Galilean accent (Matt. 26:69; Mark 14:70).

This was also one of the names of reproach given to the early Christians. Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, as he is called, not only used the epithet himself, when referring to Christ and his apostles, but he made it a law that no one should ever call the Christians by any other name.

The primary language of Galilee, at the time of Jesus Christ, is a Galilean dialect of Aramaic.

More information

• What is Aramaic?
• What is Galilee?
• What is the Sea of Galilee?
• About Jesus Christ’s disciples
• What is a Christian?
• What is a true Biblical Christian?