The Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned was called Caesarea Maritima. It was located on the shores of the Mediterranean sea and was named by Herod the Great in honor Caesar Augustus. Herod built the city and its harbor around 25 to 13 B.C. Soon after its foundation the city became the seat of the Roman praefecti.

        It was from Caesarea Maritima that a Roman Centurion (who captained 100 men in the Roman army) named Cornelius saw a vision that told him to send for Simon Peter (Acts 10). After Peter's arrival Cornelius and his family became the first New Testament Gentile converts to the Gospel.

        The apostle Paul became a Roman prisoner after a riot against what he taught broke out at Jerusalem's temple. When a plot to ambush and kill Paul was discovered he was immediately taken, under Roman protection, to Caesarea (see Acts 21-23).

        Soon after his arrival in Caesarea Paul's case was heard by Roman governor Felix. The governor, however, kept Paul a prisoner in the city for two years in the hope that money would be offered to secure his release (Acts 24:26-27). It was only after Felix was replaced as governor, and Paul requested that Caesar himself hear his case, that he left the city.