As promised, I will “re-visit” sites in order to provide more pictures, insights, etc that I just ran out of time for during the trip.

Caesarea by the Sea is especially important to Christians, as it was here that the Gospel first went out to the Gentiles. If not for what took place here, we Gentiles would have no means of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!  Here’s why.

The theater in Caesarea has been fully excavated and partially re-constructed.  (Notice the VIP box in the center of the theater…though the handrails would not have been there!)

 

 

As great a builder as Herod was, you would think he would get a survey done before building!  Here are the remains of his palace that was built out into the Mediterranean Sea…just above a fault line!  An earthquake brought destruction to the structure, but left these remains.

 

Perhaps of most interest is the inscription found in the photo below.  In efforts to discredit the Biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion, some denied that there was ever a Roman official named Pontius Pilate, in front of whom Jesus stood trial. If Pilate never existed, then the Biblical account of Jesus’ crucifixion is a fabrication.  But guess what!  Archaeologists discovered this stone, inscribed with reference to Pontius Pilate, who probably ruled from the area of Caesarea!

 

Another building feat undertaken by Herod was the construction of an aquaduct that brought water down from the Carmel area (to the north) to Caesarea.  Caesarea was a sizable city, short on drinkable water, thus making construction of the aquaduct especially necessary.

 

Today, Caesarea is the locale of some of the most expensive property in Israel.  Yet in the middle of all the material wealth lies significant spiritual wealth!  Thank God that He chose to reveal the plan of salvation to Gentiles!  That happened here in Caesarea by the Sea!