Caesarea

Caesare'a (Καισάρεια, in the Targum קיסרין), the name of several cities under the Roman rule, given to them in compliment of some of the emperors; especially of two important towns in Palestine.

1. CAESARÇA PALAESTÎNAE (Καισάρεια ἡ Παλαιστίνης), or "Caesarea of Palestine" (so called to distinguish it from the other Caesarea), or simply Cesarea (without addition, from its eminence as the Roman metropolis of Palestine, and the residence of the procurator). The numerous passages in which it occurs (Ac 8:40; Ac 9:30; Ac 10:1,24; Ac 11:11; Ac 12:19; Ac 18:22; Ac 21:8,16; Ac 23:23,33; Ac 25:1,4,6,13) show how important a place this city occupies in the Acts of the Apostles. It was situated on the coast of Palestine, on the line of the great road from Tyre to Egypt, and about half way between Joppa and Dora (Josephus, War, 1:21, 5). The journey of the apostle Peter from Joppa (Ac 10:24) occupied rather more than a day. On the other hand, Paul's journey from Ptolemais (Ac 21:8) was accomplished within the day. The distance from Jerusalem is stated by Josephus in round numbers as 600 stadia (Ant. 13:11, 2; War, 1:3, 5). The Jerusalem Itinerary gives sixty-eight miles (Wesseling, p. 600; see Robinson, Bib. Res. 3:45). It has been ascertained, however, that there was a shorter road by Antipatris than that which is given in the Itinerary a point of some importance in reference to the night- journey of Acts 23. :SEE ANTIPATRIS. The actual distance in a direct line is forty-seven English miles.