📖 Biblical Definition
Roman administrative capital of Judea on the Mediterranean coast (modern Caesarea, between Tel Aviv and Haifa), built by Herod the Great c. 22-10 BC as a grand harbor city and named for Caesar Augustus. Distinguished from Caesarea Philippi (the inland city in the foothills of Mount Hermon, site of Peter's confession in Matthew 16:13-20). Caesarea Maritima is the site of multiple significant NT narratives. (1) Cornelius the Roman centurion of the Italian Band lived at Caesarea (Acts 10:1); his vision of the angel, his sending of messengers to Joppa to fetch Peter, Peter's coming to Caesarea, his preaching to Cornelius's household, the Spirit's falling upon them, and their baptism — the Acts 10 narrative of formal Gentile inclusion is set at Caesarea. (2) Philip the evangelist lived at Caesarea after his itinerant evangelism through Samaria, Azotus, and the coastal cities (Acts 8:40; 21:8); Paul lodged with Philip on the way to Jerusalem at the end of the third missionary journey. (3) Agabus the prophet came down from Judea to Caesarea and prophesied Paul's binding at Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11). (4) Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea for two years under the procurators Felix and Festus, during which time he defended himself before Felix (Acts 24), Festus (Acts 25), and King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice (Acts 26), with the famous appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11). (5) From Caesarea Paul ultimately departed for Rome (Acts 27). The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives Caesarea Maritima as one of the most theologically and historically consequential cities of the NT: the site of formal Gentile inclusion, Paul's two-year defense-trial, and the embarkation for Rome.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Roman administrative capital of Judea on Mediterranean coast; built by Herod the Great; Cornelius's conversion (Acts 10); Paul's two-year imprisonment and defenses before Felix, Festus, Agrippa; departure for Rome.
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CAESAREA MARITIMA, proper n. (NT place) Roman administrative capital of Judea on the Mediterranean coast (modern Caesarea, between Tel Aviv and Haifa), built by Herod the Great c. 22-10 BC and named for Caesar Augustus. Distinguished from Caesarea Philippi. Five major NT narratives: (1) Cornelius the Roman centurion of the Italian Band lived at Caesarea; Peter came from Joppa to preach to his household; Spirit fell on Gentile believers; baptism (Acts 10) — formal Gentile inclusion. (2) Philip the evangelist lived at Caesarea (Acts 8:40; 21:8). (3) Agabus prophesied Paul's binding (Acts 21:10-11). (4) Paul's two-year imprisonment; defenses before Felix (Acts 24), Festus (25), Agrippa II and Bernice (26); appeal to Caesar (25:11). (5) Embarkation for Rome (Acts 27).
📖 Key Scripture
Acts 10:1-2 — "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway."
Acts 23:33 — "Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him."
Acts 25:10-11 — "Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die... I appeal unto Caesar."
Acts 27:1-2 — "And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. Caesarea Maritima is precisely attested in Acts and Roman-Jewish historical sources; the principal recovery is the integrated weight of its multiple NT narratives.
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Caesarea Maritima as a place name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary recovery is the integrated theological-historical weight of its multiple NT narratives. Caesarea is one of the most archaeologically and historically attested cities of the NT, with extensive Roman ruins still visible including the famous Pilate Stone (an inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate, one of the most important extra-biblical attestations of a NT figure). The Acts narratives at Caesarea cover the formal Gentile inclusion (Acts 10, foundational for the rest of Acts and for the Pauline mission's theology of Gentile incorporation), Paul's two-year imprisonment and defense-trials (Acts 24-26, with the great speeches before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa), and the embarkation for Rome (Acts 27). The patriarchal-Reformed reader values both the historical attestation and the integrated theological weight.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Built by Herod the Great; named for Caesar; Roman administrative capital of Judea; Cornelius's conversion; Paul's defenses and embarkation for Rome.
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['Greek', 'G2542', 'Kaisareia', 'Caesarea']
['Latin', '—', 'Caesar Augustus', 'Caesar Augustus, Roman emperor 27 BC-AD 14']
['Latin', '—', 'maritima', 'maritime, of the sea (to distinguish from Caesarea Philippi)']
Usage
"Caesarea Maritima: Roman administrative capital of Judea on Mediterranean coast."
"Cornelius's conversion (Acts 10); Paul's two-year imprisonment and defenses (Acts 24-26)."
"Paul's appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11) and embarkation for Rome (Acts 27)."