Caesarea Maritima: Where Peter Baptized a Centurion and Paul Sailed to Rome

Caesarea Maritima is one of the most important New Testament sites in Israel — a Roman port city built by Herod the Great that became the setting for pivotal moments in the early church. It's where Peter baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10); where Paul was imprisoned for two years before sailing to Rome (Acts 23–26); and where Herod built one of the most ambitious engineering projects of the ancient world. Today, the National Park at Caesarea is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Israel.

Key points:

• Caesarea Maritima was built by Herod the Great between 22 and 10 BC as a major port city on the Mediterranean coast, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Tel Aviv.
• It's where Peter baptized Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to Christianity (Acts 10), and where Paul was imprisoned for two years before his voyage to Rome (Acts 23:35–26:32).
• The archaeological park includes a Roman theater, a hippodrome, the Crusader city, and the underwater ruins of Herod's harbor.
• Plan a half-day visit — Caesarea is typically the first or last stop on a Holy Land tour, as it's on the route between Tel Aviv airport and Galilee.

What happened at Caesarea in the Book of Acts?

Caesarea appears in several key passages of Acts:

• Philip the Evangelist settled in Caesarea after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:40; 21:8). His four daughters were prophetesses.
• Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) — the Roman centurion Cornelius, stationed at Caesarea, had a vision directing him to send for Peter. Peter, meanwhile, had a vision of a sheet lowered from heaven with "unclean" animals and the command "What God has made clean, do not call common." Peter traveled to Caesarea, preached to Cornelius' household, and they received the Holy Spirit — becoming the first Gentile converts. This event is one of the most pivotal in church history, opening the gospel to the non-Jewish world.
• Herod Agrippa's death (Acts 12:20–23) — Herod Agrippa I, addressing the people of Caesarea, accepted their acclamation as a god and was immediately struck down — "eaten by worms" — according to Luke.
• Paul's imprisonment (Acts 23:35–26:32) — Paul was held in Caesarea for two years under the protection of the Roman governor Felix, and later Festus. He appeared before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa II before appealing to Caesar and sailing to Rome.

What did Herod build at Caesarea?

Herod the Great built Caesarea Maritima between 22 and 10 BC as a showcase city dedicated to his patron, Emperor Augustus Caesar (hence the name). It was a massive engineering project that included:

• The harbor (Sebastos) — Herod built an artificial harbor using hydraulic concrete (pozzolana) poured into wooden forms underwater, creating breakwaters that extended 200 meters into the sea. The harbor could accommodate 100 ships and rivaled the great port of Alexandria. It was an engineering feat without precedent in the ancient world.
• The theater — a semicircular Roman theater seating approximately 4,000, still used today for summer concerts. It's one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the eastern Mediterranean.
• The hippodrome — a U-shaped arena for chariot racing, seating approximately 12,000. The sea once lapped against its eastern end.
• The palace — Herod's palace jutted out into the sea on a promontory, with a freshwater swimming pool carved into the rock. Archaeologists have identified a room in the palace that may have been the praetorium where Paul was held.
• The aqueduct — a 10 km aqueduct system brought fresh water from Mount Carmel to the city. Sections of the aqueduct are still visible on the beach north of the site.

What should you see at the Caesarea National Park today?

The Caesarea National Park is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Israel. Key stops for a Christian group:

• The Roman theater — still in use for concerts. Stand on the stage and imagine the city at its height. A plaque near the theater commemorates the "Pontius Pilate inscription" — a stone found here in 1961 bearing Pilate's name, the only archaeological evidence of Pontius Pilate's existence outside of coins.
• The hippodrome — walk the length of the chariot-racing arena.
• The Crusader city — the ruins of the 13th-century Crusader fortifications, built by Louis IX of France. The moat and walls are well preserved.
• The harbor area — the underwater ruins of Herod's harbor are visible through the clear water. Scuba diving tours of the ancient harbor are available.
• The aqueduct — drive or walk 10 minutes north of the main site to see the impressive Roman aqueduct on the beach.
• The praetorium — the remains of Herod's palace, where Paul may have been held. Archaeologists have identified a room that matches the description of the place where Paul was kept.

Allow 2–3 hours. The site has a restaurant, café, and visitor center with an interactive video presentation.

What is the Pontius Pilate inscription?

In 1961, Italian archaeologists excavating the theater at Caesarea found a limestone block with a Latin inscription dedicating a building to Emperor Tiberius by "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judaea." This was the first archaeological evidence of Pontius Pilate's existence — prior to this, he was known only from the New Testament and the writings of Josephus and Tacitus. The inscription is now displayed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, with a replica at the Caesarea site.

How does Caesarea fit into a pilgrimage itinerary?

Caesarea is on the coastal route between Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) and the Galilee region. Most tours visit it either on the way from the airport to Galilee (arrival day) or on the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. It's a 45-minute drive from the airport and a 90-minute drive from Galilee. The half-day stop breaks up the drive and provides essential New Testament context — especially the story of Cornelius and the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles.

Caesarea is where the gospel crossed from Jew to Gentile, where Paul waited for his ship to Rome, and where Roman engineering met the biblical world. Walking its ruins, you stand at the intersection of empire and faith — the place where the church became global.