Topical Bible: Caesara

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Introduction:
Caesarea, also known as Caesarea Maritima, was an ancient city located on the Mediterranean coast of present-day Israel. It played a significant role in the history of the early Christian church and is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. The city was named in honor of Augustus Caesar by Herod the Great, who constructed it between 22 and 10 BC. It served as the Roman administrative capital of Judea and was a hub of political, economic, and cultural activity.

Historical Background:
Herod the Great built Caesarea on the site of a small Phoenician port called Straton's Tower. The city featured a magnificent harbor, known as Sebastos, which was one of the largest artificial harbors built in the open sea at that time. Herod's construction included a theater, a hippodrome, and an aqueduct, showcasing Roman engineering and architecture.

Biblical Significance:
Caesarea is mentioned several times in the New Testament, primarily in the Acts of the Apostles. It was a pivotal location for the early church and the spread of the Gospel.

1. Philip the Evangelist:
After the persecution in Jerusalem, Philip the Evangelist settled in Caesarea. Acts 8:40 states, "But Philip appeared at Azotus, and he traveled through that region, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea."

2. Cornelius the Centurion:
Caesarea was the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who is considered the first Gentile convert to Christianity. Acts 10:1-2 describes him as "a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. He and all his household were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly." Peter's visit to Cornelius marked a significant moment in the early church, as it demonstrated that the Gospel was for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.

3. Paul the Apostle:
The Apostle Paul had several significant interactions in Caesarea. He was brought to Caesarea to stand trial before Felix, the Roman governor, as recorded in Acts 23:23-24: "Then he called two of his centurions and said, 'Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix.'" Paul remained in Caesarea for two years under house arrest before being sent to Rome (Acts 24:27).

4. Agabus the Prophet:
During Paul's stay in Caesarea, the prophet Agabus came down from Judea and prophesied about Paul's impending imprisonment in Jerusalem. Acts 21:10-11 recounts, "After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, "In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles."'"

Archaeological Discoveries:
Modern archaeological excavations have uncovered significant remains of Caesarea, including the theater, the aqueduct, and parts of the harbor. These findings provide insight into the city's grandeur and its role as a major center of Roman influence in the region.

Conclusion:
Caesarea's strategic location and its role as a Roman administrative center made it a focal point for early Christian activity. The events that took place in Caesarea, as recorded in the New Testament, highlight the city's importance in the spread of Christianity and the inclusion of Gentiles into the early church.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Caesara Philippi: A city on the northeast of the marshy plain of el-Huleh, 120 miles north of Jerusalem, and 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, at the "upper source" of the Jordan, and near the base of Mount Hermon. It is mentioned in Matthew 16:13 and Mark 8:27 as the northern limit of our Lord's public ministry. According to some its original name was Baal-Gad (Joshua 11:17), or Baal-Hermon (Judges 3:3; 1 Chronicles 5:23), when it was a Canaanite sanctuary of Baal. It was afterwards called Panium or Paneas, from a deep cavern full of water near the town. This name was given to the cavern by the Greeks of the Macedonian kingdom of Antioch because of its likeness to the grottos of Greece, which were always associated with the worship of their god Pan. Its modern name is Banias. Here Herod built a temple, which he dedicated to Augustus Caesar. This town was afterwards enlarged and embellished by Herod Philip, the tetrarch of Trachonitis, of whose territory it formed a part, and was called by him Caesarea Philippi, partly after his own name, and partly after that of the emperor Tiberius Caesar. It is thus distinguished from the Caesarea of Palestine. (see JORDAN.)

Thesaurus

Caesara
...Caesara Philippi: A city on the northeast of the marshy plain of el-Huleh, 120 miles
north of Jerusalem, and 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee, at the ...
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