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Herod the Great built Caesarea Maritima from nothing into a gleaming Roman port — an artificial harbor, a theater, a hippodrome and a long aqueduct, exactly as Josephus describes. In 1961, excavators of the theater turned up a reused limestone block dedicated by 'Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judaea': the only inscription anywhere that names Pilate. Caesarea is also where Paul was held and tried, and where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert.
- Where it is
- Israeli coast, between Tel Aviv and Haifa
- Scripture
- Luke 3:1 · Acts 10 · Acts 23-26
What the evidence confirmsPontius Pilate was a real Roman official holding exactly the office the Gospels imply, and Herod's grand port city stood as the ancient sources report.
What it does not proveThe Pilate Stone attests his existence and title, nothing more — it neither confirms nor denies any Gospel event, including the trial of Jesus.
Sources & further reading