Bible Cities: Caesarea
Ancient Caesarea
THE CITY OF CAESAREA, or as it was frequently called Caesarea of Israel, was situated on the coast of the Mediterranean between Joppa and Tyre. The site was occupied originally by an ancient village called the Tower of Strato. Herod the Great built here a magnificent and Strongly fortified city, which he named Caesarea, in honor of Augustus. He formed a secure harbor by constructing a vast breakwater out into the sea. Caesarea was the capital of Judea during the reigns of Herod the Great and Agrippa I., and was the usual residence of the Roman Governor, when Judea became a mere province of the Empire. The inhabitants were principally Greeks. The city was the residence of Philip the Evangelist and Cornelius the centurion. Herod Agrippa died here by visitation of God. St. Paul was imprisoned here two years, and had his hearings here before Felix, Festus and Agrippa. The city is now in ruins. - Ancient Geography
Ancient Caesarea - Kids Bible maps
This map shows the city known as Caesarea in the land of
ancient Israel.
Caesarea was located along the coast of the Mediterranean
Sea. Herod the Great built the city up and made it very
strong and he named it Caesarea in honor of Augustus
Caesar. Philip the evangelist lived here, and so did
Cornelius the Roman centurion. Caesarea was roughly 70
miles northwest of Jerusalem and was frequently visited on
the road from Tyre to the land of Egypt.
http://kidsbiblemaps.com/caesarea.html
Ancient Caesarea - Map of New Testament Israel
CAES-A-RE`A (for Caesar), An important city on the
Mediterranean coast of Palestine, and in line ot travel from
Tyre to Egypt. Anciently called Strato`s Tower. Built by Herod
the Great, and named in honor of Caesar Augustus. Political
capital of Palestine. Residence of Philip, Acts viii, 40; and
Cornelius, Acts x, xi, 1-18. You can visit the site and see
many ruins. Ancient Caesarea was about 70 miles from Jerusalem.
https://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/caesarea.html
Caesarea in Easton's Bible Dictionary
(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 Israel,
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
Israel.
https://www.bible-history.com/eastons/C/Caesarea/
Caesarea in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
1. Named also Sebaste (i.e. of Augustus, in whose honor
Herod the Great built it in ten years with a lavish
expenditure, so that Tacitus calls it "the head of Judaea".)
Also Stratonis, from Strato's tower, and Palaestinae, and
Maritime. The residence of Philip the deacon and his four
prophesying daughters (Acts 8:40; Acts 21:8; Acts 21:16).
Also the scene of the Gentile centurion Cornelius'
conversion (Acts 10:; 11:11). Herod Agrippa I died there
(Acts 12:19-23). Paul sailed thence to Tarsus (Acts 9:30);
and arrived there from his second missionary journey (Acts
18:22), also from his third Acts 21:8); and was a prisoner
there for two years before his voyage to Italy (Acts 24:27;
Acts 25:1; Acts 25:4; Acts 25:6; Acts 25:13).
It was on the high road between Tyre and Egypt; a
little more than a day's journey from Joppa on the S. (Acts
10:24), less than a day from Ptolemais on the N. (Acts
21:8.) About 70 miles from Jerusalem, from which the
soldiers brought Paul in two days (Acts 23:31-32) by way of
Antipatris. It had a harbor 300 yards across, and vast
breakwater, (the mole still remains,) and a temple with
colossal statues sacred to Caesar and to Rome. Joppa and
Dora had been previously the only harbors of Israel. It
was the Roman procurators' (Felix, Festus, etc.) official
residence; the Herodian kings also kept court there. The
military head quarters of the province were fixed there.
Gentiles outnumbered Jews in it; and in the synagogue
accordingly the Old Testament was read in Greek.
An outbreak between Jews and Greeks was one of the
first movements in the great Jewish war. Vespasian was
declared emperor there; he made it a Roman colony, with the
Italian rights. It was the home of Eusebius, the scene of
some of Origen's labors, and the birthplace of Procopius.
Now a desolate ruin, called Kaisariyeh; S. of the mediaeval
town is the great earthwork with its surrounding ditch, and
a stone theater within, which Josephus alludes to as an
amphitheater.
2. Caesarea Philippi. Anciently Paneas or Panium
(from the sylvan god Pan, whose worship seemed appropriate
to the verdant situation, with groves of olives and Hermon's
lovely slopes near); the modern Bahias. At the eastern of
the two sources of the Jordan, the other being at Tel-el-
Kadi (Dan or Laish, the most northerly city of Israel). The
streams which flow from beneath a limestone rock unite in
one stream near Caesarea Philippi. There was a deep cavity
full of still water there. Identified with the Baal Gad of
Old Testament Herod erected here a temple of white marble to
Augustus. (See BAAL GAD.) Herod's son Philip, tetrarch of
Trachonitis, enlarged and called it from himself, as well as
Caesar, Caesarea Philippi. Agrippa II called it Neronias;
but the old name prevailed. It was the seat of a Greek and a
Latin bishopric in succession.
The great castle (Shubeibeh) built partly in the
earliest ages still remains the most striking fortress in
Israel. The transfiguration probably took place on mount
Hermon. which rears its majestic head 7,000 feet above
Caesarea Philippi. The allusion to "snow" agrees with this,
and the mention of Caesarea Philippi in the context (Matthew
16:13; Mark 8:27; Mark 9:3). The remoteness and privacy of
Caesarea Philippi fitted it for being the place where Jesus
retired to prepare His disciples for His approaching death
of shame and His subsequent resurrection; there it was that
Peter received the Lord's praise, and afterward censure. The
transfiguration gave them a foretaste of the future glory,
in order to prepare them for the intermediate shame and
suffering.
https://www.bible-history.com/faussets/C/Caesarea/
Caesarea in Naves Topical Bible
A seaport in Israel
-The home of
Philip
Ac 8:40; 21:8
Cornelius, the centurion
Ac 10:1,24
Herod
Ac 12:19-23
Felix
Ac 23:23,24
-Paul conveyed to, by the disciples to save him from his
enemies
Ac 9:30
-By Roman soldiers to be tried by Felix
Ac 23:23-35
https://www.bible-history.com/naves/C/CAESAREA/
Caesarea in Smiths Bible Dictionary
Ac 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 Israel,
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.
https://www.bible-history.com/smiths/C/Caesarea/
Caesarea in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
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; 21:8). To Caesarea Peter was sent to minister to the
Roman centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). Thrice Paul passed
through Caesarea (Acts 9:30; 18:22; 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 f). 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 AD). In 548 AD 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 AD.
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...
https://www.bible-history.com/isbe/C/CAESAREA/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 10:1
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a
centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/10/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 10:24
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius
waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near
friends.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/10/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 11:11
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come
unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/11/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 12:19
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he
examined the keepers, and commanded that [they] should be put
to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and
[there] abode.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/12/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 18:22
And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted
the church, he went down to Antioch.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/18/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 21:16
There went with us also [certain] of the disciples of
Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old
disciple, with whom we should lodge.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/21/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 21:8
And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed,
and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of
Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode
with him.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/21/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 23:23
And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready
two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third
hour of the night;
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/23/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 23:33
Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to
the governor, presented Paul also before him.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/23/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 25:1
Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days
he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/25/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 25:13
And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto
Caesarea to salute Festus.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/25/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 25:4
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and
that he himself would depart shortly [thither].
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/25/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 25:6
And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went
down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment
seat commanded Paul to be brought.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/25/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 8:40
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he
preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/8/
Caesarea Scripture - Acts 9:30
[Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to
Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Acts/9/
Caesarea Scripture - Mark 8:27
And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of
Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples,
saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Mark/8/
Caesarea Scripture - Matthew 16:13
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked
his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man
am?
https://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Matthew/16/
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