Introduction:
Caesarea, a significant city in ancient Palestine, holds considerable importance in biblical history and early Christianity. It served as a major port and administrative center during the Roman Empire. There are two notable cities named Caesarea in the New Testament: Caesarea Maritima and Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Maritima:
Caesarea Maritima, often simply referred to as Caesarea, was built by Herod the Great between 22 and 10 BC. It was named in honor of Caesar Augustus. Located on the Mediterranean coast, it became the Roman capital of Judea and a hub of political and economic activity.

Biblical Significance:
Caesarea Maritima is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. It was here that the Apostle Peter baptized Cornelius, a Roman centurion, marking a pivotal moment in the early Church as the Gospel began to spread to the Gentiles. Acts 10:1-48 details this event, highlighting the divine vision Peter received, which led to the acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian faith: "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right'" (Acts 10:34-35).

The city also served as a backdrop for the Apostle Paul's ministry and legal trials. Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years before being sent to Rome (Acts 23:23-35; 24:27). During his time there, he defended his faith before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa, as recorded in Acts 24-26.

Caesarea Philippi:
Caesarea Philippi, located near the base of Mount Hermon, was another city of importance. Originally known as Paneas, it was renamed by Herod Philip in honor of Caesar Augustus and himself. This city is notable for its association with Peter's confession of Jesus as the Messiah. In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Peter responds, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16). This declaration is a cornerstone of Christian belief, affirming Jesus' divine identity.

Cultural and Historical Context:
Both Caesarea Maritima and Caesarea Philippi were centers of Roman influence and culture. Caesarea Maritima, with its impressive harbor, amphitheater, and aqueducts, exemplified Roman engineering and architecture. It was a melting pot of cultures, reflecting the diverse population of the Roman Empire.

Archaeological Discoveries:
Excavations at Caesarea Maritima have uncovered significant artifacts, including the remains of Herod's palace, the theater, and the aqueduct. One of the most notable finds is the Pilate Stone, an inscription bearing the name of Pontius Pilate, providing historical corroboration of his role as the Roman prefect during the time of Jesus.

Conclusion:
Caesarea, in its various forms, played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity and the early Church's development. Its historical and biblical significance continues to be a subject of study and interest for scholars and believers alike.Caesarea

(Acts 8:40; 9:30; 10:1,24; 11:11; 12:19; 18:22; 21:8,16; 23:23,33; 25:1,4,6,13) was situated on the coast of Palestine, on the line of the great road from Tyre to Egypt, and about halfway between Joppa and Dora. The distance from Jerusalem was about 70 miles; Josephus states it in round numbers as 600 stadia. In Strabo's time there was on this point of the coast merely a town called "Strato's Tower," with a landing-place, whereas in the time of Tacitus Caesarea is spoken of as being the head of Judea. It was in this interval that the city was built by Herod the Great. It was the official residence of the Herodian kings, and of Festus, Felix and the other Roman procurators of Judea. Here also lived Philip the deacon and his four prophesying daughters. Caesarea continued to be a city of some importance even in the time of the Crusades, and the name still lingers on the site (Kaisariyeh), which is a complete desolation, many of the building-stones having been carried to other towns.

Caesarea

Often called Caesarea of Palestine, situated on the coast of the Mediterranean sea, between Joppa and Tyre. It was anciently a small place, called the Tower of Strato, but was rebuilt with great splendor, and strongly fortified by Herod the Great, who formed a harbor by constructing a vast breakwater, adorned the city with many stately buildings, and named it Caesarea, in honor of Augustus. It was inhabited chiefly by Greeks, and Herod established in it quinquennial games in honor of the emperor. This city was the capital of Judea during the reign of Herod the Great and of Herod Agrippa I., and was also the seat of the Roman power while Judea was governed as a province of the empire. It was subject to frequent commotion between the Greeks, Romans, and Jews, so that on one occasion 20,000 persons are said to have fallen in one day.

It is noted in gospel history as the residence of Philip the evangelist, Acts 8:40 21:8; and of Cornelius the centurion, the first fruits from the Gentiles, Acts 10:1-48 11:1-18 Here Herod Agrippa was smitten by the angel of God, Acts 12:20-23. Paul several times visited it, Acts 9:30 18:22 21:8,16; here he appeared before Felix, who trembled under his appeals,

Acts 23:23 24:1-27; here he was imprisoned for two years; and after pleading before Festus and Agrippa, he sailed hence for imperial Rome, Acts 25:26 27:1. It is now a heap of ruins.

(Palestinae), a city on the shore of the Mediterranean, on the great road from Tyre to Egypt, about 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem, at the northern extremity of the plain of Sharon. It was built by Herod the Great (B.C. 10), who named it after Caesar Augustus, hence called Caesarea Sebaste (Gr. Sebastos = "Augustus"), on the site of an old town called "Strato's Tower." It was the capital of the Roman province of Judaea, the seat of the governors or procurators, and the headquarters of the Roman troops. It was the great Gentile city of Palestine, with a spacious artificial harbour. It was adorned with many buildings of great splendour, after the manner of the Roman cities of the West. Here Cornelius the centurion was converted through the instrumentality of Peter (Acts 10:1, 24), and thus for the first time the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. Philip the evangelist resided here with his four daughters (21:8). From this place Saul sailed for his native Tarsus when forced to flee from Jerusalem (9:30), and here he landed when returning from his second missionary journey (18:22). He remained as a prisoner here for two years before his voyage to Rome (Acts 24:27; 25:1, 4, 6, 13). Here on a "set day," when games were celebrated in the theatre in honour of the emperor Claudius, Herod Agrippa I. appeared among the people in great pomp, and in the midst of the idolatrous homage paid to him was suddenly smitten by an angel, and carried out a dying man. He was "eaten of worms" (12:19-23), thus perishing by the same loathsome disease as his granfather, Herod the Great. It still retains its ancient name Kaiseriyeh, but is now desolate. "The present inhabitants of the ruins are snakes, scorpions, lizards, wild boars, and jackals." It is described as the most desolate city of all Palestine. CAESAREA

ses-a-re'-a, se-za-re'-a (Kaisareia):

(1) Caesarea Palestina (pal-es-ti'na).

The ancient name in the Arabic form Qaisariyeh still clings to the ruins on the sea shore, about 30 miles North of Jaffa. It was built by Herod the Great on the site of Strato's Tower (Ant., XIII, xi, 2; XV, ix, 6), and the name Caesarea Sebaste was given it in honor of Augustus (ibid., XVI, v, 1). With his usual magnificence Herod lavished adornments on the city. He erected sumptuous palaces and public buildings, a theater, and amphitheater with prospect to the sea; while a spacious system of sewers under the city secured cleanliness and health. But "the greatest and most laborious work of all" was a magnificent harbor "always free from the waves of the sea," which Josephus says was not less than the Piraeus: this however is an exaggeration. It was of excellent workmanship, and all the more remarkable because the place itself was not suitable for such noble structures. The whole coast line, indeed, is singularly ill-fitted for the formation of harbors. The mighty breakwater was constructed by letting down stones 50 x 18 x 9 ft. in size into twenty fathoms deep. The mole was 200 ft. wide. Part was surmounted by a wall and towers. A promenade and dwellings for mariners were also provided. The work was done in ten or twelve years. It became the residence of the Roman procurator. It passed into the hands of Agrippa I; and here he miserably died (Acts 12:19, 23). Here dwelt Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:40; Acts 21:8). To Caesarea Peter was sent to minister to the Roman centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). Thrice Paul passed through Caesarea (Acts 9:30; Acts 18:22; Acts 21:8); hither he was sent under guard from Jerusalem to escape danger from the Jews (Acts 23:23); and here he was imprisoned till his final departure for Rome.

Riots between Gentiles and Jews in Caesarea gave rise to the war (BJ, II, xiii, 7;. xiv, 4). Terrible cruelties were practiced on the Jews under Felix and Florus. Here Vespasian was hailed emperor by his soldiers. Titus here celebrated the birthday of his brother Domitian by setting 2,500 Jews to fight with beasts in the amphitheater. Eusebius was bishop of Caesarea (313-40 A.D.). In 548 A.D. a massacre of the Christians was organized and carried out by the Jews and Samaritans. The city passed into Moslem hands in 638. In the time of the Crusades it fell, now to the Christians and now to the Moslems; and was finally overthrown by Sultan Bibars in 1265 A.D.

The cathedral stood on the site of a temple built by Herod, where the ruins are seen today; as are also those of two aqueducts which conveyed water from Nahr ez-Zerqa. The landward wall of the Roman city was nearly 3 miles in length.

(2) Caesarea Philippi (fi-lip'-i) (Kaisareia he Philippou).

At the Southwest base of Mt. Hermon, on a rocky terrace, 1,150 ft. above sea-level, between Wady Khashabeh and Wady Za`areh, lie the ruins of the ancient city. It was a center for the worship of Pan: whence the name Paneas, applied not only to the city, but to the whole district (Ant., XV, x, 3). It is possible that this may have been the site of ancient Baal-hermon; while Principal G. A. Smith would place Daniel here (HGHL, 480). The district was given by Augustus to Herod the Great 20 B.C., by whom a temple of white marble was built in honor of the emperor. Paneas formed part of the tetrarchy of Philip. He rebuilt and beautified the town, calling it Caesarea as a compliment to Augustus, and adding his own name to distinguish it from Caesarea on the coast of Sharon (Ant., XVIII, ii, 1; BJ, II, ix, 1). From Bethsaida Jesus and His disciples came hither, and on the way Peter made his famous confession, after which Jesus began to tell them of His coming passion (Matthew 16:13 Mark 8:27). Some think that on a height near Caesarea Philippi Jesus was transfigured. See TRANSFIGURATION, MOUNT OF. Agrippa II renamed the town Neronias (Ant., XX, ix, 4). The ancient name however outlived both Caesare a and Neronias, and survives in the Arabic form Banias. The modern village, built among the ruins, contains 350 inhabitants. The walls and towers of which the remains are seen date from Crusading times. The castle, ec-Cubeibeh, crowns the hill behind the town, and must have been a place of strength from the earliest times. Its possession must always have been essential to the holding of the valley to the west. Immediately to the north of the town, at the foot of a steep crag, the fountain of the Jordan rises. Formerly the waters issued from a cave, Magharet ras en-Neba`, "cave of the fountain head," now filled up with debris. Two niches cut in the face of the rock recall the idolatries practiced here in olden times. A shrine of el-Khudr stands on the west of the spring. With the rich soil and plentiful supplies of water, in a comparatively temperate climate, average industry might turn the whole district into a garden. As it is, the surroundings are wonderfully beautiful.

W. Ewing

2542. Kaisareia -- Caesarea, the name of two cities in Palestine
... Caesarea, the name of two cities in Palestine. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Kaisareia Phonetic Spelling: (kahee-sar'-ia) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2542.htm - 6k

494. Antipatris -- Antipatris, a city between Joppa and Caesarea ...
... Antipatris, a city between Joppa and Caesarea in Palestine. Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: Antipatris Phonetic Spelling: (an-tip-at-rece ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/494.htm - 6k

2883. Kornelios -- Cornelius, a Roman centurion
... Kornelios Phonetic Spelling: (kor-nay'-lee-os) Short Definition: Cornelius Definition:
Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army, stationed at Caesarea. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2883.htm - 6k

5061. Tertullos -- Tertullus, probably a Roman
... Phonetic Spelling: (ter'-tool-los) Short Definition: Tertullus Definition: Tertullus,
a barrister acting as professional prosecutor of Paul at Caesarea. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5061.htm - 6k

3416. Mnason -- Mnason, a Christian
... Spelling: (mnah'-sohn) Short Definition: Mnason Definition: Mnason, an early Christian,
native of Cyprus, resident at a place between Caesarea and Jerusalem. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3416.htm - 6k

4424. Ptolemais -- Ptolemais, a seaport south of Tyre
... Ptolemais Phonetic Spelling: (ptol-em-ah-is') Short Definition: Ptolemais Definition:
Ptolemais, a coast city of Phoenicia, midway between Tyre and Caesarea. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4424.htm - 6k

Caesarea. Strato's Tower.
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 51-60 Chapter 57 Caesarea. Strato's Tower. ... R.
Isaac said, Leshem is Panias, and Ekron is Caesarea, the daughter of Edom." ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 57 caesarea stratos tower.htm

The Trial at Caesarea
... Lesson 39 The Trial at Caesarea. ... He was removed from office in disgrace, and Porcius
Festus was appointed to succeed him, with headquarters at Caesarea. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 39 the trial at.htm

The Festival of Games, in Honor of Augustus, were About to Begin ...
... CHAPTER 24 The festival of games, in honor of Augustus, were about to begin
at Caesarea.? The festival of games, in honor of Augustus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 24 the festival of.htm

Paul's Epistles; his Collection for the Poor Saints at Jerusalem ...
... CHAPTER IX. PAUL'S EPISTLES; HIS COLLECTION FOR THE POOR SAINTS AT JERUSALEM;
HIS IMPRISONMENT THERE, AND AT CAESAREA AND ROME. AD57 TO AD63. ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ix pauls epistles his.htm

The Story of the Angel by the Altar
... In the south was Hebron among the mountains; on the shore of the Great Sea were
Gaza, and Joppa, and Caesarea; in the middle of the land were Shechem and ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the angel.htm

Paul Appeals to Caesar
... "When Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea
to Jerusalem. ... They had not forgotten their former defeat at Caesarea. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 40 paul appeals to.htm

Arbel. Shezor. Tarnegola the Upper.
... I render it "Geber, (or Gabara) the upper, which is above Caesarea." Why I render
Tarnegola by Geber, those that are versed in the Talmudic writings will ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 85 arbel shezor tarnegola.htm

The Epistles of the Captivity.
... Paul does not mention the place of his captivity, which extended through four years
and a half (two at Caesarea, two at Rome, and six months spent on the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 93 the epistles of.htm

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
... to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.8. And the next
day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/drawing nearer to the storm.htm

More Wonderful Works and Words
... And now Jesus went right away from the Sea of Galilee again to Caesarea Philippi. ...
There is a splendid high mountain near Caesarea Philippi, called Hermon. ...
/.../anonymous/the good shepherd/chapter viii more wonderful works.htm

Caesarea (20 Occurrences)
... It was built by Herod the Great (BC 10), who named it after Caesar Augustus, hence
called Caesarea Sebaste (Gr. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CAESAREA. ...
/c/caesarea.htm - 20k

Caesarea-Philippi (2 Occurrences)
Caesarea-Philippi. Caesare'a, Caesarea-Philippi. Caesar's .
Multi-Version Concordance Caesarea-Philippi (2 Occurrences). ...
/c/caesarea-philippi.htm - 7k

Caesare'a (17 Occurrences)
Caesare'a. Caesarea, Caesare'a. Caesarea-Philippi . Multi-Version
Concordance Caesare'a (17 Occurrences). Matthew 16:13 Now when ...
/c/caesare'a.htm - 10k

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of Paul, then a
prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next day ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

Philemon (2 Occurrences)
... Certain scholars (Reuss, Schenkel, Weiss, Holtzmann, Hilgenfeld, Hausrath and Meyer)
have urged Caesarea in opposition to the traditional place, Rome. ...
/p/philemon.htm - 17k

Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of Paul, then a
prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next day ...
/p/porcius.htm - 11k

Antipatris (1 Occurrence)
... father, Antipater. It lay between Caesarea and Lydda, two miles inland,
on the great Roman road from Caesarea to Jerusalem. To this ...
/a/antipatris.htm - 7k

Cornelius (10 Occurrences)
... He was evidently a man of importance in Caesarea and well known to the Jews
(Acts 10:22). He was a centurion in the Italian cohort. ...
/c/cornelius.htm - 16k

Arrived (129 Occurrences)
... Matthew 16:13 When He arrived in the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus
questioned His disciples. "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" He asked. ...
/a/arrived.htm - 33k

Lysias (3 Occurrences)
... The chief captain (chiliarch) who commanded the Roman troops in Jerusalem, and sent
Paul under guard to the procurator Felix at Caesarea (Acts 21:31-38; 22:24 ...
/l/lysias.htm - 12k

Who was Basil of Caesarea? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Eusebius of Caesarea? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Cappadocian Fathers? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus