Caesarea
Caesare'a. Caesarea, Act_8:40; Act_9:30; Act_10:1;
Act_10:24; Act_11:11;
Act_12:19; Act_18:22;
Act_21:8; Act_21:16;
Act_23:23; Act_23:33;
Act_25:1; Act_25:4;
Act_25:6; Act_25:13,
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.
Source:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Caesarea
ses-a-rē´a, sē-za-rē´a (Καισαρεία,
Kaisareía):
(1) Caesarea Palestina (pal-es-ti'na). The ancient name in the Arabic
form Ḳaisarīyeh 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 (Act_12:19,
Act_12:23). Here dwelt Philip the
Evangelist (Act_8:40; Act_21:8). To Caesarea Peter was sent to
minister to the Roman centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). Thrice Paul passed through
Caesarea (Act_9:30; Act_18:22; Act_21:8);
hither he was sent under guard from Jerusalem to escape danger from the Jews (Act_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-Zerḳā. The landward wall of the Roman
city was nearly 3 miles in length.
(2) Caesarea Philippi (fi-lip´ī) (Καισαρεία
ἡ Φιλίππου, Kaisareía
hē Philíppou). At the Southwest base of Mt. Hermon, on a rocky
terrace, 1,150 ft. above sea-level, between Wādy Khashabeh and Wādy
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
Dan here (HGHL, 480). The district was given by Augustus to Herod the
Great 20 bc, 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 (Mat_16:13;
Mar_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 Bāniās.
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,
eṣ-Ṣubeibeh, 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, Maghāret
rās en-Neba‛, “cave of the fountain head,” now filled up
with débris. 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.
Source:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Caesarea
(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 (10 B.C.),
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
(Act_10:1, Act_10:24),
and thus for the first time the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles.
Philip the evangelist resided here with his four daughters (Act_21:8). From this place Saul sailed for his
native Tarsus when forced to flee from Jerusalem (Act_9:30),
and here he landed when returning from his second missionary journey (Act_18:22). He remained as a prisoner here for
two years before his voyage to Rome (Act_24:27;
Act_25:1, Act_25:4,
Act_25:6, Act_25:13).
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” (Act_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.
Source:
Easton’s Bible Dictionary