Port
Caesarea
Also called Caesarea Maritima
- Ancient name
- Caesarea
- Modern location
- Caesarea (archaeological site) · Israel
- Location
- Identified site
Editorial summary
A Roman harbor city on the coast. Paul landed here at the end of his second journey and stayed with Philip the evangelist near the end of his third. He was later held here in custody, and appealed to Caesar here.
What happened here
13From Azotus to Caesarea
After the baptism the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and he was found at Azotus. Passing through, he preached the good news in all the cities until he came to Caesarea.
Acts does not name the cities between Azotus and Caesarea.
Sent off to Tarsus
When the brothers learned that the Hellenists were seeking to kill him, they brought Saul down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Cornelius’ vision
Cornelius, a devout centurion of the Italian Regiment in Caesarea who gave generously and always prayed, saw an angel of God in a vision. The angel told him to send to Joppa for Simon called Peter, who was staying with a tanner by the seaside, and Cornelius sent two household servants and a devout soldier.
Peter at the house of Cornelius
Peter came to Caesarea, where Cornelius had gathered his relatives and near friends. Peter told them that God shows no favoritism and spoke of Jesus; while he was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard, and Peter commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
The death of Herod
Herod had the guards executed and went down to Caesarea. When the people of Tyre and Sidon asked for peace, he made a speech in royal clothing, and the people shouted that it was the voice of a god. An angel of the Lord struck him for not giving God the glory, and he died.
Acts says Herod went down to Caesarea and stayed there; the speech and his death follow without another place being named.
Landing at Caesarea
Sailing from Ephesus, Paul landed at Caesarea.
Agabus’ warning
Paul’s company stayed with Philip the evangelist. The prophet Agabus bound his own hands and feet with Paul’s belt, saying the owner would be bound in Jerusalem; Paul replied that he was ready to die there for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Delivered to Felix at Caesarea
The horsemen reached Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. Learning that Paul was from Cilicia, Felix said he would hear him when his accusers arrived and ordered him kept in Herod’s palace.
Trial before Felix
The high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an orator, Tertullus, who accused Paul before Felix of stirring up insurrection and trying to profane the temple. Paul answered that he had gone up to Jerusalem to worship and to bring gifts to his nation. Felix put off the case and kept Paul in custody.
Felix and Drusilla hear Paul
Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and heard Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus; when Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified and sent him away. Hoping for money, Felix often talked with him, and when Festus succeeded him after two years, he left Paul in bonds.
Paul appeals to Caesar
At Caesarea, Jews from Jerusalem brought many serious charges against Paul that they could not prove, and Paul denied any offense against the law, the temple or Caesar. When Festus asked whether he would go up to Jerusalem to be judged, Paul appealed to Caesar, and Festus said that to Caesar he would go.
Paul before Agrippa and Bernice
King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea, and Festus had Paul brought before them. Paul told of his former life, his persecution of believers and his vision on the road to Damascus. Afterward they agreed he had done nothing worthy of death or bonds, and Agrippa said he could have been freed had he not appealed to Caesar.
Handed to the centurion Julius
When it was decided that they should sail for Italy, Paul and other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, and they put to sea in a ship of Adramyttium.
Acts 27:1–2 does not name the port of departure. Paul had been held at Caesarea (Acts 25:4–6), which is why the voyage is mapped from there.
People here
15From here
On these journeys
Scripture
Nearby in the atlas
Location certainty
Scholarly consensus identifies this site.
- Coordinates
- 32.5000° N, 34.8917° E