Archaeologists Uncover a Roman City That Could Be the Bible’s Strongest Physical Evidence
Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Roman city on Israel’s coast that appears to be the grand port built by a king described in the Bible. Caesarea Maritima sits about 45 kilometers north of present-day Tel Aviv and once hosted a vast artificial harbor, aqueducts, a theater, and a stadium that still stand today, offering a window into the real Roman world where early Christian events took place. The site is repeatedly mentioned in the Book of Acts as a major center of Roman governance and early Christianity, and the ruins and artifacts found there provide some of the clearest physical evidence supporting the people, places, and events described in the Bible.
In This Article:
The Pilate Stone: First Direct Archaeological Proof Pontius Pilate Existed
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. 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. 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. The inscription 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 inscription dates to the period when Pilate served as governor, between 26 and 36 CE. 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.
Caesarea: Peter, Paul and the Birth of Christian Life
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 CE. Romans 13:3 reads: 'Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.'
Herod, Josephus and Origen: The Harbor's Grand History
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 BCE. 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. 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.
Caesarea Maritima Today: A Vast Archaeological Park Bridging Rome and the New Testament
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. The site’s dramatic ruins, emerging mosaics, and restored public buildings situate ancient events in a tangible landscape, inviting ongoing study and reflection.
