spamandham

It occurred to me, that many passages in the NT might be pointing to Petra.

The tongue in cheek quote from Matthew possibly one? Pliny the Elder describes it as the home of Aramaic speaking Semites known as Nabataeans (the region being known as Nabatene)

1. "Peter, I say to you you are a rock, and on this rock I will build my church"; could this possibly refer to an actual church built right out of rock (Petra)?

2. The argument spin started here, could 'Nazara" actually be out in the desert (Petra?)?

3. ...the birth story, involving birth in a cave?

4. "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (...to nearby Petra?)

5. Joseph of Arimathaea (Nabataeans became the Arabic name for Aramaeans)

6. Herod the great plays a significant role in the history of Petra near the dawn of the first century.

Yes, I know this is only half baked, but I'm curious what others here might think of this idea.