Caesarea
The city of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Mount Tabor
Caesarea - the city, so named by King Herod in honor of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus. The first settlement here was founded by the Phoenicians still, in the 3rd century. BC Having mastered the city, Herod turned it into a powerful trading center and port. Here lived one of the first seven deacons - Philip. From here, the Apostle Paul, shackled, on trial in Rome. The king wanted to personally hear Agripa Paul to decide what to do with it. But the apostle and the court did not attempt to defend themselves, but turned to God's word to the king of Judah:
Would you believe that King Agrippa, the prophets? I know that you believe.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuade me to become a Christian.
Paul said, I would to God, in a little and in much, not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were such as I am, except these bonds ... Acts of the Apostles, 26
Caesarea now lies in ruins, partly submerged by the sea. North is Haifa - the third largest city in Israel, with a large port and industrial concentration. It is located on the slopes of Mount Carmel (Vineyard of God). Name corresponds to the historical truth: on the slopes have long grown grapes from which the wine is fine. But now the vineyards are much smaller - they cut down the Turks during the Ottoman rule.
Mount Carmel is known as the history of the "genocide" of the prophets of Baal, which seeks God's prophet Elijah for 850 years BC .:
And Elijah said unto the people, I am one, remain a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty people.
let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under;
Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord my God. The god who answers by fire, He is God. And all the people answered and said, okay.
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under.
And they took the bullock which was given them, and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us! But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
At noon Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; maybe he thought, or busy with something, or on the road, and perhaps he is asleep wake up!
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Midday passed, and they prophesied until the time of sacrifice; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor hearing.
Then Elijah said to all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came to him. He repaired the altar of the Lord.
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the Lord, saying, Israel shall be thy name.
And he built with the stones an altar in the name of the Lord, and made trench around the altar large enough to hold two measures of seed
and he put the wood, and cut the bullock, and put it on the wood,
and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood. Then he said again. And they repeated. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time,
The water ran down around the altar and filled the trench.
During the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came and said, Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel Let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am thy servant, and did everything according to your word.
Hear me, O Lord, hear me! This people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
And fire came down the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell on their faces and said the Lord is God, the Lord is God!
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal, that none of them escape. And seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there ... 3 Kings 18
So 450 prophets of Baal were put to death on the mountain, and the Israelis refused to worship pagan gods. Now here are the monastery and church of "Maria Stella" of the Carmelite Order as well as the tomb of the founder of the Baha'i Universalist neoreligii - Baba, which is built around a lush garden.
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To the east of Mount Carmel is Galileo - a historical region in northern Israel. It is the birthplace of all the apostles of Christ, and the land where Jesus preached and revealed the most miracles. One of them took place on Mount Tabor:
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And he was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, good for us to be here; if you want, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses and one for Elijah.
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; Listen to him. Matthew 17
This event showed the closest disciples of Christ, the Son of God far above all those who revered the Jews to this day.
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