Καισάρεια (Kaisareia)
Kaisareia
Caesarea
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun Kaisareia refers to two distinct cities in the New Testament, both named in honor of the Roman emperor Caesar. The first is Caesarea Philippi, located at the foot of Mount Hermon near the sources of the Jordan River. This site was originally known as Paneas before Philip the Tetrarch rebuilt it and renamed it to pay tribute to Augustus Caesar.
The second and more frequently mentioned location is Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast. Built by Herod the Great on the site of Strato’s Tower, this city featured a magnificent harbor and served as the administrative capital for Roman procurators. Its population was largely Greek, reflecting its status as a center of Gentile influence.
While Caesarea Philippi appears in the Gospels as the setting for Peter’s confession (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27), the coastal city dominates the Book of Acts. It is where Philip evangelized, where Peter received his vision about clean and unclean animals, and where Paul was held under guard before appealing to Caesar.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Caesarea appears in the New Testament as more than just a geographic marker; it represents the expanding reach of the Gospel into Gentile territories. In the Gospels, Caesarea Philippi serves as the backdrop for Peter’s confession of Christ, highlighting a moment of deep spiritual clarity amidst pagan surroundings. Later, in Acts, the coastal city becomes the stage where the early church navigates its identity, welcoming Cornelius and bridging the gap between Jewish and Gentile believers.
For your faith, these locations remind us that God’s presence is not confined to Jerusalem or the Temple. Whether in a remote mountain shrine or a Roman administrative center, Christ is revealed to those who seek Him. The journey of Paul and Philip through Caesarea illustrates how the early Christians moved confidently into complex cultural landscapes, trusting that the message of salvation transcends political boundaries and social divisions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Caesarea8×
- Caesarea,5×
- of Caesarea2×
- Caesarea;1×
- Caesarea.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Καισαρείας5×
- Καισάρειαν,4×
- Καισάρειαν4×
- Καισάρειαν·1×
- Καισάρειαν.¶1×
- Καισαρείᾳ1×
- Καισαρείας,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 16:13
Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
This verse marks the pivotal moment where Peter identifies Jesus as the Messiah, grounding the confession in a region historically associated with pagan worship.
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Acts 10:1
Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
The introduction of Cornelius here signals the critical turning point where the Gospel explicitly extends to uncircumcised Gentiles.
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Acts 21:8
On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
Paul’s stay with Philip highlights the continuity of evangelistic ministry and the personal connections that sustained the early church network.