Herod the Great had a problem. In his heart he was a pagan, but he ruled over the Jews as Rome's vassal. Knowing that the religious Jews of Jerusalem would respond with revulsion and revolt to the pagan practices of his helenistic friends, Herod created a playground for them at Caesarea. This beautiful Mediterranean city became the Roman capitol for the province of Judea. It's no wonder that Pontius Pilate made his home here rather than in Jerusalem with all of its religious "fanatics."

Herod's legacy can still seen today in the archeological wonders that have been unearthed at Caesarea. A hippodrome for chariot races, one of the largest harbors in the ancient world, a long aqueduct that brought fresh water from Mt. Carmel to feed numerous fountains, and a fresh water swimming pool which was surrounded by the ocean were just some of Herod's building feats at Caesarea. This was Herod's Roman amusement park.

Caesarea was built on a crossroad of the ancient world. People from all walks of life with conflicting worldviews walked its streets. Herod Agrippa II, king of Judea, told Paul at Caesarea “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” Paul was near the end of nearly 2 years in prison at Caesarea. Yet given the opportunity to tell his story, his passion was as fresh as the day he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Caesarea too was on a road, the Way of the Sea. The Romans called it the Via Maris.

For centuries, travelers had passed through the area where Caesarea was built. On a major trading route, people from all over the world came together to exchange goods and ideas. Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Babylonians, Persians, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans had all looked out on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and dreamed of riches and fame. Powerful armies had camped here in an effort to impose foreign influence and pagan gods on the people who lived here. This little patch of ground has always been at the strategic center of the world.

Let’s shift spiritual gears. During the Roman era, Caesarea was the gateway through which Rome exercised its power over the province of Judea. But shortly after Jesus’ ascension to heaven, it also became a gateway to the rest of the world for the Gospel. Romans tells us “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Each of us who are Christians were once held in bondage to our own sin. While we were in rebellion to God, we had influence on the people around us. If Christ has now taken control of our lives, the same should still be true. God has placed the people who belong to Him at strategic crossroads all over the world, including YOU!

Now here’s the question. Are the people around us aware of our faith? Do they echo Agrippa’s declaration? “In a short while, you will convince me to become a Christian!”