Caesarea Maritima

Bible Reference

  1. After Paul received Jesus, he was sent to Tarsus from Caesarea
    Acts 9:30; And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and send him off to Tarsus.
  2. First Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit (Cornelius)
    Acts 10:1-8; 1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

    4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

    The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

    7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

  3. Holy Spirit was given to Gentiles audience.
    Acts 10:44-48; 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

    Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

  4. Herod Agripa I, son of Herod the Great death in Caesarea.
    Acts 12:21-23; On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
  5. Philip, one of the Evangelist lived here.
    Acts 21:8; Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
  6. Paul stood trial here.
    Acts 23:33-35; 33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
  7. Paul was in prison here for 2 years.
    Acts 24:27; When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
  8. After 2 years in prison here, Paul left Caesarea to Rome to appeal to Caesar, and was killed there.
    Acts 25:8, 11;  8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
    11.  If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

Interesting Facts:

  1. Build by Herod the Great who ordered killing of all boys two years old and under in an attempt to kill the infant Jesus.
  2. Herod the Great was a master builder who constructed this city from bare land between  25 and 13 BC
  3. It was built in the style of European and Roman architecture to showcase Roman influence in the Middle East.
  4. Served as a base for Roman governors, such as Pontius Pilate during Jesus’ time, because it mirrored Roman architectural styles and systems.
  5. Caesarea was one of the largest seaports in Mediterania.
  6. Caesarea was the capital city during Roman occupation of Judea (the region encompassing Jerusalem) and during Jesus time.

Reference TTL:

Caesarea is a magnificent site, a national park where amazing ancient harbor ruins, beautiful beaches, and impressive modern residences sit side by side. Caesarea is originally an ancient Herodian port city located on Israel’s Mediterranean Coast about halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa.

The site has recently been restored to create one of Israel’s most attractive and fascinating archaeological sites. The restored Caesarea amphitheater hosts modern-day concerts during the summer months, whilst the Old City has a range of boutiques and restaurants.

The new town of Caesarea is a luxurious neighborhood of villas, whose beach, the Caesarea Aqueduct Beach is one of the best beaches in Israel. Caesarea can be difficult to visit without a car, and many visitors opt to join a tour to Caesarea, which is a convenient and good value way to enjoy the site.

Bible Verses:

  1. Acts 8:40; But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
  2. Acts 9:30; And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
  3. Acts 10:1; At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
  4. Acts 10:24; And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
  5. Acts 11:11; And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
  6. Acts 12:19; And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
  7. Acts 18:22; When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

  8. Acts 21:8; On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

  9. Acts 21:15; And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
  10. Acts 23:23; Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.
  11. Acts 23:33; When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.
  12. Acts 25:1; Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
  13. Acts 25:4; Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
  14. Acts 25:6; After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
  15. Acts 25:13; Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
  16. Acts 25:14; And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix,

  17. Acts 25:17; So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

  18. Acts 25:23; So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
  19. Acts 25:24; And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
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