Today we began our adventure in Caesarea, which is north of Tel Aviv (Joppa) on the Mediterranean. We saw the ruins of Herod the Great's palace. This is the Herod who ordered the slaughter of the babies at the time of Jesus' birth. His sons also reigned there after he died. Pilates home is also there. He was the governor of Judea and was in Jerusalem at the time Jesus' crucifixion. There is a huge ampitheater and a hippodrome (race track for chariots, etc.)
Two significant Bible stories happened here...this is where Cornelius, a Roman centurion, who was also a "God-fearer"- a believer in Jahweh, had his vision to summon Peter from Joppa. He sent three of his men and as they were arriving the next day, Peter had his own vision on a roof that he was to eat unclean animals. He resisted, being a good Jew, but after the third time, the door knock came with the three soldiers asking Peter to come with them to Caesarea. He did and Cornelius and his whole family were baptized...marking one of the first times the early church crossed the boundaries to reach the Gentiles. (See Acts 10). The second story concerns Paul and is documented in the last chapters of Acts. The Jews of Jerusalem were out to convict and kill Paul for his preaching. Being a Roman citizen, he appealed to Caesar. Under guard he was taken to Caesarea and then to Rome.
Caesarea was a port city with aqueducts built just before Jesus' birth by Herod the Great. It had a long and important history. It is where Eusebius was bishop in the second century (one of the drafters of our first creed). It also featured big in the Crusades of 1100. The place of worship began as a Roman temple. On its ruins, a Christian church was built, and then a mosque...none of which stand today.
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