Caesarea

CAESARE'A, the chief Roman city of Palestine in New Testament times. It was on the Mediterranean, about 44 miles south of Acre, and 47 miles in a direct line north-west of Jerusalem. It had a harbor protected by an artificial wall or breakwater. History — Originally it was called "Strato's Tower." Herod the Great built a city there, b.c. 10, and named it in honor of Augustus Caesar. Herod Agrippa I. died there. Acts 12:19-23. Philip the evangelist lived there, Acts 8:40; Acts 21:8, Ex 17:16, and Cornelius, Acts 10:1-24. Paul frequently visited it, Acts 9:30; Josh 18:22; Acts 21:8; Acts 23:33; was in bonds there two years, Acts 24:27; it was the official residence of Festus and of Felix. Vespasian was declared emperor there. It had a learned school and an episcopal see; was the birthplace of Procopius; the residence for a time of Origen; of Eusebius, the historian, who was bishop of Caesarea; was a noted city in the time of the Crusades; was twice rebuilt by the Christians; fell into decay; and is now in ruins. It is called Knisnrieh. Large quantities of the building stones have been carried to other towns and used for building. Stanley calls it the most desolate site in Palestine, with no signs of human life, and the nearest road passes at a distance from the extensive ruins. CAESARE'A-PHILIPPI, the Greek Paneas, now called Banias by the Arabs, is a town at the base of Mount Hermon, about 20 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and 45 miles south-west of Damascus. It was the northern limit of our Lord's journeys. Matt 16:13; Mark 8:27, and was probably Baal-gad of Old Testament history. It was here that Peter, in the name of all the other apostles, made that fundamental confession of faith in Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour, and that Christ uttered the prophecy concerning the indestructible character of his Church. Matt 16:16 ff. The gushing waters of the sources of the Jordan and the immovable rocks of Mount Hermon were in full view when our Lord spoke those words, and served to illustrate their meaning. The landscape is one of the most beautiful in Palestine, and has been called the Syrian Tivoli. History. — The town is remarkable for its physical and historical associations. It was near two important sources of the Jordan; its ancient classical name was Paneion, in commemoration of the sanctuary of the god Pan; it was enlarged by Philip the Tetrarch, and named Caesarea-Philippi to distinguish it from the other Caesarea, on the Mediterranean; later on it was called Neronias by Herod Agrippa II.; it became the seat of a bishopric; it was repeatedly Caesarea. (From a Photograph. Palestine Exploration Fund.) Csesarea-Philippi, or Banias. (After Photographs of Frith and Good.) Sources of the Jordan near Banias. (After Photographs of Frith and Good.)