Echoes of the Ancient New Testament Cities: Caesarea Maritima

Matthew J. Elliott

Happy Labor Day!!

Map Location 

One of my favorite things about being an author is all the research I get to do, so I can write stories that are as historically accurate as possible. With my primary genre being Biblical Fiction, it is not always easy to ‘capture’ the story as fully as I want to because I wasn’t there. I do my best to imagine what things could have been like, but short of building a time machine, all we have to go on is history. That is what this series is all about. 

In my newest release, The Hope of Inheritance, my characters journeyed to several ancient cities. This sparked so much research, and I learned way more than I bargained for. I cannot claim to be a historian or an expert on the cities I have discovered through this, but I love sharing what I’ve learned with others. This month, we are heading to Caesarea Maritima, a port city that was a melting pot of imperial strength, political turmoil, cultural misunderstandings, and even war.

As the primary Roman capital of Judea, Caesarea was a place where deep-seated tensions built up over the years, eventually leading the city to implode upon itself.  It was the nerve center for Roman governance and military operations in the region. The political unrest in the city led to war, but it also played an instrumental role in the narrative of early Christianity. Before the reign of Herod the Great, Caesarea was a small port town with seemingly nothing to offer Rome. 

Harbor at Caesarea Maritima

According to the World History Encyclopedia, Herod commissioned an engineering masterpiece that was built between 22 and 15 BCE: a massive artificial harbor called Sebastos, which was recognized as one of the largest and most technologically advanced ports in the ancient world. Herod’s ambition wasn’t primarily focused on that, though. He was making a political statement. In time, the city became a testament to Roman power.

Complete with a grand palace, a theater that seated over 4,000 people, aqueducts that brought water in from Mt Carmel, and a huge arena for chariot races,  Caesarea was a symbol of sophisticated Roman living. By 6 CE, the city had officially replaced Jerusalem as the Roman provincial capital. Its population was a vibrant mix of several different groups of people who lived in their own urban districts. This attempt at coexistence is what often led to the struggles the Jewish community and the Greco-Syrian communities endured. 

Rendering of the Massacre

History suggests that the Roman governors who ruled from the city often exploited these tensions with their cruelty and corruption. This is what some have said Josephus, a Jewish military general who became a historian, identified as the primary cause of the first Jewish-Roman War.  The Roman Governor, Gessius Florus, was so corrupt that he ordered his soldiers to break into the Temple treasury. It was the final blow that sparked the uprising between 64 and 66 AD.  The Jewish people resented this disregard for their rights and the injustice of the Roman officials. 

Adding to the ongoing issues between both peoples, when a Grecian merchant offered bird sacrifices at the synagogue’s entrance, it pushed the tensions even further. When the Roman Garrison did not intervene, the event culminated in a horrific massacre in which 20,000 Jews in Caesarea were slaughtered. This atrocity forced the Jewish people past a point of no return, fueling a widespread rebellion and beginning the First Jewish-Roman War.

Paul's Arrest

The First Jewish-Roman War took place during the last few years of Paul the Apostle’s life. While he was in Rome ministering to the people there, which is next month's ancient city, things in Caesarea were becoming more challenging than anyone expected.  Did you know that the path Paul to to Rome actually led through Caesarea earlier on in history? In Acts 23, a Roman commander sends Paul to Governor Felix to keep Paul from being killed by the Jewish leaders. 

Caesarea is also where Paul baptized Cornelius, another Roman centurion, who became one of the leaders of the church there.  This was one of the defining moments for Christianity in the city of Caesarea and opened the door for so many other pivotal ministry moments. There is so much more that ties Christianity to Caesarea. When Paul was imprisoned there, he was able to preach and teach in Herod’s palace. All of which led him to Rome.

Another man, Phillip the Evangelist, who journeyed to Caesarea in Acts 21, would also become a leader of the church there. While Phillip was originally the man known to have taught the eunuch on the road to Samaria, he was also sent to Caesarea, where it seems that he lived a good portion of his later years. When Paul and his companions needed a place to stay in Caesarea before he was sent there by the Roman Commander, Lysias, they stayed at the house of Phillip. 

While much more can be shared about Caesarea and its impact on history and the rise of Christianity, it is important to note that the city was crucial to the growth of the Roman Empire and the Early Church. There were many different types of people living in Ancient Caesarea, and they all had a role in how this city and its history still impact us today. The lessons learned throughout history are ours to embrace.

See you in the pages,

M. J. E.

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew and his wife, Traci, have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, his goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

My Newest Biblical Fiction Novel, The Hope of Inheritance, came out on Father's Day and has received a ChristLit Book Award for excellence in Christian Literature. Grab it via Amazon. If you enjoy it, please let me know by posting a review.

One Story Still Untold. Four Unlikely Authors.

Together, their Message will speak to Many.

The city of Rome was a vast and beautiful place-- on the surface. That is, until a great fire burned and destroyed most of it. Deep in a world hidden from those who would strike against them, four unlikely men work together to share a message of truth. This truth was spoken by those who were cut down because of the calling to go forth and preach. 

The message has always been clear: The hope of our inheritance is Christ living within each of us. In the echoes of persecution, sorrow, and even death, this message still reigns supreme, but will the people listen? Only time will tell, but before anything, these four men must come together and unite a church separated by fear and suffering.