Experiencing the Land of the Bible – Tour Stop #2

Experiencing the Land of the Bible is a series of posts about places in the Holy Land that I visited on my trip in 2023. If you travel to Israel with me, many (if not all) of these are places we’ll visit as well. Each week’s post highlights the biblical and historical significance of the site, any interesting modern facts that add value, some pictures and maybe some videos I took in those locations as well. And if there’s a faith lesson to be learned, I’ll make sure to point that out as well.

Israel is a beautiful place that will not only inspire you, but totally transform your faith. You’ll never see the Bible the same way again… it will come alive in a way you never expected. If you’re interested in visiting the Holy Land, we have a trip scheduled for March 12-20, 2026. Space is going fast, but you can still get more information and reserve a spot now!

Where Are We?

Welcome to Caesarea Maritima (also known as “Caesarea By the Sea“), an incredible ancient city carved out of the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Built by Herod the Great between 22-10 B.C. as a tribute to Caesar Augustus, Caesarea wasn’t just a port, it was a grand statement. Massive theaters, opulent palaces, aqueducts, temples, and a man-made harbor that rivaled anything Rome had to offer, all to honor Caesar, the ruler of the Roman Empire.

It was also the power center of Roman rule in Judea. Politically strategic, architecturally stunning, and spiritually unlikely.

And yet, this is the place where the gospel grew beyond its Jewish roots and began its journey to everyone. This is literally where Jesus For All People got started.

Biblical Significance: Jesus For All People

Caesarea is where one of the most pivotal moments in the New Testament took place: Peter and Cornelius. (Acts 10)

Cornelius, a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, receives a vision from God telling him to send for Peter. At the same time, Peter, 30 miles away in Joppa, is having a vision of his own: a sheet descending from heaven filled with animals the Jewish law said were “unclean.” And a voice said, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

They meet in Cornelius’ home. A Gentile and a Jew. A Roman soldier and a disciple of Jesus. And Peter realizes something that will change the church forever:

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” – Acts 10:34-35

The Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household, and Peter is stunned. For the first time, the message is clear:
Jesus is for all people.

This wasn’t just a feel-good moment. It was a theological earthquake. The early church had to wrestle with it, debate it, and ultimately embrace it. And it all started here, in a Roman city, in the home of a Gentile, on the spiritual frontier at the edge of the empire.

The Launchpad of the Gospel

But that’s not the only reason Caesarea mattered. In terms of Bible history, some other very important things went down here.

This was also the main port of Judea, the place where people set sail for the rest of the Roman world. Paul sailed to and from Caesarea on his missionary journeys.

After Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, he was transferred to Caesaria, where he spent two years as a prisoner (Acts 23–26). (In the photo gallery below, there’s a picture of what is believed to have been Paul’s prison cell.) He would eventually leave here and begin his final missionary journey to Rome.

Think about that… the words of Jesus, spoken in dusty villages and fishing towns, were carried from this very harbor to the heart of the empire.

The gospel launched to the nations of the world from this place.

So when Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), Caesarea was the literal launching point.

Archaeological Insight

The ruins at Caesarea Maritima are some of the most impressive in Israel. Highlights include:

• The Roman Theater – still in use today for concerts, built by Herod and overlooking the sea. This venue hosted plays among other things, and was also the site where Titus, the son of Roman Emperor Vespasian, condemned 2,500 Christians to fight wild beasts to the death to celebrate his brother’s birthday.
• The Pontius Pilate Inscription – A limestone block with Pilate’s name engraved in Latin was found here in 1961. This is the only archaeological evidence of Pilate’s existence to date.
• Herod’s Palace – He built it right next to the water both for privacy and so he could personally keep an eye on the ships coming in and out of the harbor. Complete with a freshwater swimming pool built into the Mediterranean shoreline. #humble
• The Harbor – One of the greatest engineering feats of the ancient world. Herod used volcanic ash to make underwater concrete. Incredible.
• The Crusader City and Fortifications – Layers upon layers of history here, from Romans to Byzantines to Crusaders.

Standing here, you can feel how strategic and influential this city was. It’s like Rome and Jerusalem had a baby, and that baby had political power, beachfront views, and fancy tile.

I took these pictures when I visited Caesaria Maritima in 2023. Click on a picture to open it up and read the caption explaining what you’re seeing. You can view a few more of my photos from the Holy Land here.

Aha Moment: From Caesarea to Canton

What happened in Caesarea wasn’t just a history lesson – it was a vision shift.

The early disciples saw Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. But here in this city, they began to realize:

He’s not just for us.
He’s for them.
He’s for everyone.

That’s why this site matters so much. Not just because of what happened then, but because of what it ignites now.

At First Christian Church, we carry that same calling.
To take the good news of Jesus to all people.
To make space for those who feel like outsiders.
To welcome them to the family.

Caesarea reminds us that the church isn’t meant to be a cul-de-sac of faith. It’s a runway. A harbor. A sending place.

Reflection

Where have I drawn lines that Jesus never drew?

Where is God calling you to carry His presence – not just in sacred spaces, but in strategic ones?

Who in my life needs to hear the good news – but I’ve assumed they wouldn’t be interested, or that it’s not for them?

Jesus, remind me that You came for everyone.
Help me carry the gospel boldly, across my street, and across the world.

Visiting Today

The ruins of Caesarea are stunning. Herod’s theater still hosts performances (you can see them setting up some gear for one in the pictures I’ve included in this post), the palace remains overlook the sea, and the massive harbor is still visible. But the most powerful part? Knowing that from this very place, the gospel took off.