Bible Meaning: Severed
Strong's Concordance #G2542
Caesarea (also referred to as Caesarea Maritima) was a Mediterranean coastal town located roughly 23 miles (37 kilometers) south of Mount Carmel. It was constructed by Herod the Great and named in honor of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. Soon after being built, it became the capital of the Roman Province of Judea (Palestine).
The first century Jewish historian Josephus wrote the following about the beauty of Caesarea.
"Now upon his (Herod's) observation of a place near the sea . . . he set about getting a plan for a magnificent city there, and erected many edifices with great diligence all over it, and this of white stone. He also adorned it with most sumptuous palaces and large edifices for containing the people . . .
"It was (Caesarea) of excellent workmanship; and this was the more remarkable for its being built in a place that of itself was not suitable to such noble structures, but was to be brought to perfection by materials from other places, and at very great expenses" (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 15, Chapter 9, Section 6).
New Testament evangelism
The apostle Paul was in Caesarea several times during his ministry. He first passed through the city when his early zealousness compelled the Jerusalem church to send him home to Tarsus (Acts 9:29 - 31).
Near the end of his third missionary journey he spent several days with Philip the evangelist who, along with his four virgin daughters, hosted a fellowship in their home (Acts 21:8 - 14). His last recorded stay was as a prisoner for more than two years as he awaited his trial before the Roman governor (Acts 24).
Philip walked to Caesarea after he was miraculously transported from near Gaza to Azotus after baptizing an Ethiopian eunuch. The city is also the place where Peter baptized Cornelius, a Centurion in the Roman army. Cornelius became the first gentile (non-Jew) the New Testament states became a Christian (Acts 10).
Important Verses
Acts 8:40
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Acts 9:26, 29 - 30
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples . . . And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Acts 21:8
And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven: and abode with him.
Acts 23:16 - 17, 23
And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him . . .
And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night . . .
Acts 25:1 - 5
Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul (who was a Roman prisoner at the time), and besought him, and desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.