Caesarea

Caesarea served as the Roman capital of Judea and a key administrative center built by Herod the Great on the Mediterranean coast. The apostle Paul was imprisoned there for roughly two years after his arrest in Jerusalem, during which he defended his faith before governors Felix and Festus as recorded in Acts 24–26. These events proved pivotal in Scripture because they prompted Paul’s appeal to Caesar, setting the stage for his voyage to Rome and further witness to the gospel. The city also features prominently as the site of Cornelius’s conversion, illustrating the early church’s expansion to Gentiles.

0:00

Auto Play

Details

Region: Canaan
Modern Location: Caesarea Maritima ruins, Israel

Strongest connections in Scripture

Acts 10 Acts 23

Journey Paths

Agabus's Journey

Antioch → Caesarea

Peter's Journey

Sea of Galilee → Jerusalem → Capernaum → Caesarea → Rome

Philip (Evangelist)'s Journey

Samaria → Caesarea

Key Passages

Peter and Cornelius

Acts 10:1-8

At Caesarea, Peter learns that God shows no favoritism - the gospel breaks through to Gentiles as the Spirit falls on Cornelius's household.

T¹here was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

² A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. ³ He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. ⁴ And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: ⁶ He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. ⁷ And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; ⁸ And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Paul's Imprisonment

Acts 23:33-35

Paul spends two years imprisoned in Caesarea - yet his trials before governors become opportunities to proclaim the gospel to Roman authorities.

W³³ho, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

³⁴ And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; ³⁵ I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

Caesarea

Details

Nearby Places