Caesarea

Caesarea is a city on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about 50 miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was the capitol of the Roman province of Judea for many years. In the middle of the 3rd century BC, the Phoenicians built a small port here, and called it Stratos Tower. It was captured by Alexander Janneus in 96 BC, and became a Jewish community.

When general Pompey conquered Israel in 66 BC, Stratos Tower became a predominately Gentile city. Emperor Augustus gave the city to King Herod, who built an entirely new city between 22 and 10 BC, and called it Caesarea to honor the emperor. Peter baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius here, and Philip the Evangelist lived in Caesarea.

Paul passed through Caesarea and was imprisoned there for two years, before being sent to Rome for trial.