Herod's Theatre-Our First Amazing Stop

Herod's Theater

Stepping off the bus and into the area where our first "site" was in Israel, transported us from the present day, to a very modern yet ancient Israel. Herod's Theater named after Herod the Great is where we first stop, and where Max Lucado first addresses the entire group of 500. After amazing worship he delivers his message on Jesus' love, and acceptance of the unlovely. 

Max's Message:

Jesus was big about moving IN. He spent so much time with questionable people ...he got accused of being one.

His Facebook page had Zaccheus, Matthew the tax collector, and other vagabonds. Ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem...and in Samaria-instead of a country club ministry, he created a lighthouse for everyone... 2000 years later, we are sitting here in the area where Cornelius summoned Peter- 

Cornelius was the impassable uncool person-the Gentile-the non Jew-any racial tension you may have experienced, multiply that by 10, and you have the tension that existed between the Jew and the Gentile. To get a feel for the atmosphere that Jesus was born into, Jews could not aid a gentile mother in child birth, Jewish physicians could not attend a non Jewish patient, Jews were to be totally separate and therefore "clean"…UNLESS you were Jesus Christ, and there you see someone begin building bridges to the Gentiles. Jesus, in His goodness, welcomes all. He is touching, and loving the untouchable and unlovable. Come all, is His message. Not one person, based on race, background, job description, will ever be barred from My kingdom. This is not a country club, my welcome sign is out for all people-all mankind.

We are working "backwards" through the land of Israel, starting at Caesarea in the book of Acts, where Peter is summoned by angels because of one man's persistent prayer. It is a turning point for the Christians of the day, because they were mostly Jews, and this is the point where God supernaturally unveils His plan of love and salvation which is to include the entire world.

Acts 10:

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually- And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,  And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Awesome. Enveloped in His love. Looking out over the Mediterranean Sea, sitting in a theater where people sat over 2000 years ago….the trip is off to a good start. I have to admit, I only partially got this sermon as I was completely distracted by a beautiful bird singing behind me-more on that later.

As the sermon wraps up, we get background information on the area in which we are sitting. 

description of Herod's Theater

Butterflies, Flowers, Breathtaking Fragrances abound

copies of artifacts found during excavation 

Max getting ready to speak-it's SUPER SUNNY every day

arches-typical Roman era

this is a pool that is still there, despite the Sea's wild beating for  centuries

The old city Caesarea required a steady flow of running water.  Initially its waters came from the local wells. However, as the  population grew to several hundred thousand people, a large scale aqueduct was required to bring the water from a distance.  The aqueduct was built in several phases, starting from King Herod.

About the Theater and the Adjoining Palace Area

The area of Caeserea was previously an independent Jewish state-ruled by the Maccabees- Herod the Great takes over this part of the country between 25 and 13 BC. He names the area in honor of Augustus Caesar. He is an Edomite, he is a Jew, his ancestors converted into Judaism, but he was raised in a Hellenistic way-and learned to admire Greek architecture. He had some ruthless ways, but was considered "great" because of the level of building he accomplished and the peace he was capable of keeping.  He reigned around 40 years and is involved in many of the buildings we will see all over the country of Israel. 

The theatre was just the beginning. As we roamed the area, there were artifacts, and an entire "site" where Herod's castle had been. There is a hippodrome (horse racing area), and an amazing pool that had been surrounded by columns, mosaic tile floors and rooms coming off of the pool area.

 the remains of what had been a gorgeous large pool surrounded by columns

The remains give an idea of just how massive an area the palace occupied. An entry from the east leads into the large courtyard of the place. This courtyard was surrounded on all sides by a roof covered colonnade and was most likely landscaped with trees and bushes. The courtyard was surrounded by rooms, the largest to be seen on the north side. This room was named the Audience Hall-a possible place where Felix met Paul in Acts 24:26. The palace itself is situated on a promontory into the Mediterranean Sea. 

Unrelated to Herod,the Pilate Stone was found here in 1961, an important archaeological find with a partial inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate-a prefect of the Roman controlled province of Judae from 26-36 AD-the only other place Pontius Pilate is mentioned is in the New Testament, as he was the one who sentenced Jesus to death. This was his palace as it had been Herod's, and he travelled to Jerusalem as deemed necessary-)

Pilate Stone-this is a copy. the original is in the Israeli Museum

And so, began our journey.How to condense each site into a bite-sized capsule? This is the first two hours of an 8 day incredible journey, yet, I feel I must capture some of what we experienced and put it into paper before it leaves the forefront of my mind.