Where did Andrew and Simon Peter come from?

Andrew was Jesus’ first disciple. His brother Simon (a.k.a. Peter) was arguably the most important, identified by Jesus as the rock on which his church would be built. But where did Andrew and Simon Peter come from?

According to Mark, Andrew and Simon Peter were from Capernaum:

“They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching … As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” [Mark 1: 21-22a, 29, NRSV]

Luke confirms this, although whereas Mark has Jesus enter Andrew and Simon’s house “as soon as” they left the synagogue at Capernaum, Luke just says “after”, perhaps leaving enough time for a journey from the synagogue to a house somewhere else:

“He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching … After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house.” [Luke 4:31-32a, 38a, NRSV]

Matthew also appears to suggest that Andrew and Simon lived at Capernaum, saying that Jesus entered Peter’s house in Matthew 8:14 having first said that he entered Capernaum in Matthew 8:5, but this is less clear even than Luke.

In narrating the call of Philip, however, John goes against all this evidence, saying that Andrew and Simon Peter were from Bethsaida:

Bethsaida: “Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.” [John 1:44, NRVS]

So were Andrew and Simon Peter from Capernaum, or from Bethsaida?