Respectfully opinion only. Also in Jesus time and before Jesus time, there was no such place, what we know today and called the Middle East??>>>> but all was part of Africa? Even Israel was much much larger then it is today, the bible gives a full description and boundaries of Israel, does it not?
As Empires try to conquer other Empires, bounties and names were changed over time, either enlarged or decreased?
Ethiopia is mentioned also over 3,000 times in OT? If correct also, the oldest Bible is the Ethiopia Bible, if this true, has the 3 Books of Enoch and many books within then their Ethiopian Bible then we do, believe they have>88??
Moses marries a woman from Ethiopia Woman, then there is Solomon, Ethiopia woman also Queen of Sheba? St Phillip also baptized a Ethiopian in Jerusalem. People traveled moved all over for jobs, because of floods, trades, wars,educated, learned men/woman moved about also for knowledge, and there were those who fled from persecutors, wars, why also there was a need for tent makers?
Must be a reason why she is called Mother Africa? Nile River, 4,000 miles long ( Nile River only River in the world, that travels up stream>that is amazing wonder on its own!!! ) was known as the Transportation Highway of the world at that time, Trades, Spices, Minerals, Raw materials, Silks, Salts, Gold, Silver, All Natural resources, travelers from all walks in life, also exchanged knowledge through travel also, from other travelers, how also Christianity spreads?
Lions come from Africa right, not Rome in the time of Jesus and Elephants were used also for transportation and in wars, unearth symbols found, believe in Jerusalem interesting is it not?
History goes with Beliefs, every Nation has their History, cultures, rituals, traditions, knowledge within and their own belief etc? Why so many gods also? Interesting and stand to be corrected ( how we learn?) but much can be googled all out there photos etc. Ethiopia also has many icons of Jesus and Mary also do they not? Peace