Israel to Caesarea Maritima theater

Caesarea was a major city that appears often in the book of Acts. Sometimes called Caesarea Maritima to differentiate it from Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16), this was a brand-new city when Simon Peter visited Cornelius (Acts 10). Later, Paul would be held prisoner in Caesarea for two years (Acts 23-26). Herod the Great built the city and named it for the Roman emperor only a few years before Jesus was born. The city was a modern marvel for its time. Anchored by a man-made port, Caesarea gave Herod a much-needed seaport along the smooth coastline of Judea. He added a Greek-styled theater, hippodrome and other fields for athletic competition, along with a massive palace for himself. The palace featured a swimming pool that jutted out into the Mediterranean. New excavations indicate Paul was held prisoner underneath this palace complex. Aqueducts brought fresh water to the city from the base of Mt. Carmel, some 17 miles to the northwest. Herod Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great, died a gruesome death at Caesarea (Acts 12:21-23).