Caesarea Maritime – Where Cornelius was Converted!

Last week I began a weekly Insight to Israel to prepare us for our April trip to Israel. We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and after a night’s rest in Tel Aviv, we will go to Jaffa or Joppa – The Port of Gentile Salvation. After leaving Jaffa, we will travel 15 miles up the coast to Caesarea Maritime.

• a city on the Mediterranean coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa
• a city that was once a small Phoenecian trading post
• a city built by Herod the Great with a man made harbor, amphitheater etc.
• a city named after Caesar Augustus
• a city co-named Maritime or on the sea
• a city that was the Roman headquarters in Israel in the days of Christ

It is mentioned only in the book of Acts. It was there:

• Acts 8:40 - Philip preached to the Gentiles
• Acts 9:30 - Paul was sent off to Tarsus
• Acts 10 - Peter took the Gospel to Cornelius
• Acts 12:23 - Herod Agrippa died of worms
• Acts 21:8,11 - Agabus prophesied Paul would be captured in Jerusalem
• Acts 23:23ff - Paul was tried before Felix, Festus, Agrippa

What do these have in common? Each event reminds us that the Gospel is not a natural part of the thinking or life of both Jew and Gentile. As a result it must be preached (Acts 8:40), it is often resisted by the Jews (Acts 9:30; 21:8,11), is often resisted by the Gentiles (Acts 12:23, 23:23ff) but perhaps the most important lesson from Caesarea is that it is available to ALL (Acts 10) and amazingly powerful in saving some!

“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles”

Acts 10:44-45

PS: Remember to get your registration form to me with your $285 deposit and a copy of the first page of your passport or register online (full refund until December 16 if the trip is canceled for any reason. Make checks payable Rich and/or Lynette Van Heukelum or Word for the Word for the World Ministries.