A Pilgrim’s Guide to Jaffa (Joppa) and Caesarea Maritima
A Pilgrim’s Guide to: Jaffa (Joppa) and Caesarea Maritima
November 20, 2025
When Christian pilgrims dream of the Holy Land, their hearts and minds are naturally drawn to two places: Jerusalem, the city of Christ’s passion and Galilee, the region of His ministry.
But the story of our faith doesn’t end at the empty tomb. It explodes into the world and that explosion was ignited along Israel’s beautiful Mediterranean coast.
The ancient port cities of Jaffa (Joppa) and Caesarea Maritima are the “launching pad” of the Great Commission. This is where the wall between Jew and Gentile was torn down by the Holy Spirit, and where the Gospel was officially sent to the “ends of the earth.”
For a pilgrim, visiting these sites is a crucial step in understanding the Book of Acts. They are a core part of our Essential 8-Day Pilgrimage for this very reason.
Jaffa (Joppa): The Vision That Broke the Rules
The ancient, picturesque port of Jaffa (called Joppa in the Bible) is a place of profound spiritual transition. It’s a place where God has repeatedly called His people to a wider mission.
The Old Testament Context
In the Old Testament, Jaffa is a place of departure and resistance. It’s the port where the prophet Jonah fled to Tarshish, doing everything he could to avoid God’s call to preach to the Gentiles in Nineveh (Jonah 1:3).
The New Testament Revelation: Peter’s Vision (Acts 10)
Centuries later, the Apostle Peter was in Jaffa, staying at the house of “Simon the Tanner” (Acts 9:43). It was here, on a rooftop overlooking the same sea Jonah fled across, that God gave Peter one of the most important visions in history.
Peter, a devout Jew, fell into a trance and saw a great sheet descend from heaven, filled with “unclean” animals, and a voice commanded him to “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Peter, of course, refused, saying, “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice replied, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:15)
The Spiritual Significance
This vision was not about food; it was about people. At that very moment, messengers from a Roman Centurion—a Gentile named Cornelius—arrived at the gate. Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, understood. He went with them, entered a Gentile’s home (a major taboo), and preached the Gospel to them.
Jaffa is where God broke down the barriers in His own disciples’ minds, preparing them to take the good news to the entire world.
Caesarea Maritima: The Gospel Goes Global
If Jaffa was the vision, Caesarea Maritima was the divine confirmation. This stunning city, a masterpiece of Roman engineering built by King Herod, was the political capital of the region. It was a city of Roman power, pagan temples, and a massive aqueduct.
It was, in short, the heart of the “Gentile world” in Judea. And it was here that the Gospel would prove its power.
The Conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10)
This is the “payoff” to Peter’s vision. Peter, having journeyed from Jaffa, arrives at Cornelius’s house in Caesarea. As he preaches the story of Jesus, the unthinkable happens:
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” (Acts 10:44-45)
This is the “Gentile Pentecost.” It was the definitive proof that God’s plan of salvation was for everyone, not just the Jewish people.
Paul’s Prison and Prophetic Defense (Acts 23-26)
Caesarea’s biblical story doesn’t end there. It becomes a central location in the life of the Apostle Paul. After being arrested in Jerusalem, Paul was sent to Caesarea to be kept safe.
It was here, as a prisoner, that Paul spent two years (Acts 24:27). And it was here, in the governor’s palace (the Praetorium), that he made his boldest defenses of the Gospel, not just as a prisoner, but as an ambassador for Christ.
In Caesarea, Paul:
- Reasoned with Governor Felix about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25).
- Gave his full testimony to Governor Festus (Acts 25).
- Delivered his famous appeal to King Agrippa, nearly persuading him to become a Christian (Acts 26:28).
Caesarea Maritima is where Paul, under Roman guard, boldly preached to the highest levels of Roman power. It was from this port city that he was ultimately sent to Rome, fulfilling his destiny to bring the Gospel to the heart of the empire.
Why You Must Visit Jaffa and Caesarea
A pilgrimage that only includes Jerusalem and Galilee is missing the third act.
- Galilee is where Jesus started His ministry.
- Jerusalem is where He finished His work of salvation.
- Jaffa & Caesarea are where the Holy Spirit launched the global church.
When you walk through the beautiful port of Jaffa and stand in the vast Roman theater at Caesarea, you are walking in the footsteps of the first apostles as they changed the world. You are witnessing the birthplace of the Gentile church.
This is why, as we detail in our First-Timer’s Guide to the Holy Land, a complete pilgrimage must include this powerful coastal story.
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- Dedicated Tour: Explore our One Day Caesarea / Mediterranean Coastline Tour, which is focused on these two locations plus many more.
- Multi-Day Tours: All our Multi-Day Christian Tour Packages include visits to Jaffa and Caesarea Maritima.
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