On the coast of Israel, archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery: an ancient Roman city believed to be the grand port constructed by a biblical king. This city is none other than Caesarea Maritima, located just 28 miles north of today’s Tel Aviv.

Caesarea Maritima was a bustling hub in its time, featuring a massive artificial harbor, impressive aqueducts, a grand theater, and a stadium. These structures have endured through the ages, offering a tangible glimpse into the Roman world where early Christian history took shape.

The site frequently appears in the Book of Acts, where it is depicted as a prominent center for Roman administration and burgeoning Christianity. Archaeologists assert that the ruins and artifacts found at Caesarea Maritima offer some of the most compelling physical evidence of the biblical narratives, their characters, locations, and events.

One of the most noteworthy finds at the site is the Pilate Stone, an inscription that explicitly names Pontius Pilate as the Roman governor of Judea. This discovery adds significant weight to the historical accounts of the period.

Archaeologists say the ruins and artifacts found there provide some of the clearest physical evidence supporting the people, places, and events described in the Bible. 

Among the most significant discoveries is the Pilate Stone, an inscription naming Pontius Pilate as the Roman governor of Judea. 

The stone offers the first direct archaeological proof that the official who presided over Jesus’ trial was a real historical figure. Additional discoveries at the site suggest early Christians lived and worshiped in Caesarea, aligning closely with New Testament accounts. 

The Pilate Stone in the city of Caesarea Maritima (Pictured) helped prove that the man who judged Jesus was a real historical character

The theatre in Caesarea Maritima pictured in 1986 

Caesarea Maritima was said to be the location where Peter baptized the first non-Jewish believer, marking a pivotal moment in the spread of Christianity beyond Judaism. 

The city was also where the apostle Paul was imprisoned and put on trial before Roman officials, just as described in the Book of Acts. 

Ancient mosaics uncovered at the site quote verses from Paul’s letters, including inscriptions believed to be among the oldest known New Testament texts, dating back to the second century AD.

One of the most famous artifacts discovered at Caesarea is the Pilate Stone, found in June 1961 during excavations of a Roman theater. 

The carved limestone slab originally formed part of a dedication to the emperor Tiberius Caesar and names Pontius Pilate as ‘prefect of Judea.’ 

Before its discovery, Pilate was known only from written sources, including the New Testament and brief mentions by the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman writer Tacitus. 

Only a portion of the inscription remains, but it reads: ‘To this Divine Augusti Tiberieum, Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, has dedicated this.’

The original limestone relic has since been moved for safekeeping to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, while a replica now stands in the archaeological park at Caesarea. 

The city of Caesarea Maritima was a port on the Mediterranean built by King Herod between 22 and 10 BC

The Pilate Stone (Pictured), discovered in 1961, confirms Pilate’s role in the  trial of Jesus

The inscription dates to the period when Pilate served as governor, between 26 and 36 AD, the same era described in the gospels. 

The Gospel of Luke states: ‘Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee.’ 

Pilate is mentioned at least 50 times in the Bible, portrayed as the Roman authority who ultimately handed Jesus over for crucifixion.

After Caesarea was destroyed by Muslim forces in 1265, the site remained largely untouched for centuries. Only a small number of inhabitants used the ruins as a fishing village until the city’s historical importance was recognized in the 20th century. 

Since excavations began in the 1950s, researchers have uncovered a treasure trove of Roman-era structures, including a governor’s palace and a praetorium, reflecting the judicial setting described in the New Testament.

The Book of Acts mentions Caesarea about 15 times, detailing Paul’s two-year imprisonment and multiple legal hearings before Roman officials. 

It also describes Caesarea as home to a Christian organization that helped Paul escape persecution. 

Archaeologists have found evidence of early Christian life at the site, including mosaics bearing New Testament verses such as Romans 13:3, which reads: ‘Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.’

Caesarea Maritima displays pieces of Roman history that add credibility to the accounts of the gospels

Jewish historian Josephus Flavius wrote that Herod built Caesarea as a massive artificial harbor for ships traveling to Egypt, complete with underwater breakwaters, giant statues of the emperor, and a towering lighthouse. 

Herod is also described in the Bible as the ruler who ordered the massacre of infants in Bethlehem and who constructed Caesarea from scratch between 22 and 10 BC.

Third-century scholar Origen is believed to have lived in Caesarea, where he compiled his influential edition of the Old Testament in both Hebrew and Greek. 

Today, Caesarea Maritima stands as a vast archaeological park, attracting visitors from around the world, including those seeking historical context or confirmation of the Bible’s accounts. For archaeologists and historians alike, the city continues to serve as a powerful bridge between Roman history and the New Testament narrative.