Caesarea and Mt. Carmel

Our first stop was Caesarea Maritima located along the Mediterranean Sea. It was founded by the Phoenicians in the 4th B.C. Later, Caesar gave Herod the Great control of the area. It was the largest Roman port in the eastern Mediterranean. Herod also constructed a huge theater that it is estimated and could seat as many as 3,500 people. According to Josephus (Acts 21) it is believed this is the location that Herod Agrippa died. At the end of Paul's missionary journey he most likely stopped along this route (Acts 23:22-26) and it is believed he was imprisoned here. Herod also constructed a huge theater that it is estimated could seat as many as 3,500 people. The ancient theater is over 2,000 years old. We were able to bring home a piece of actual pottery from the time. Today only 10% of the site has been excavated.

From this site we left for Mt. Carmel overlooking the Jezreel Valley. This is the area where Elijah declared war on Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18:19).

Some believe that this is where Armageddon will take place. The valley below is currently known as the "bread basket" of Israel because of the wheat, barley, and olives grown there. The valley is bordered by Lebanon to the North, Mt. Moav to the East, Samaria to the South and Mt. Carmel on the West. Today Mount Carmel is host to a Carmelite Monastery.