Caesarea Philippi

The name means Caesarea of Philip, for it was built up by Philip the Tetrarch, son of Herod the Great, who wished to distinguish it from the Caesarea on the coast (founded by his father). 

In 20 B.C. the Emperor Augustus Caesar appointed Herod the Great to rule the territory. In 4 B.C.this portion passed to Philip (4 B.C. - 34 A.D.), who named the city to honour Tiberius Caesar, the current Emperor. Its former name in pagan times was Paneas, and years later it was renamed Neronias, after Nero.

The city was located on the SW slopes of Mount Hermon near one of the main sources of the Jordan. It was about 120 miles from Jerusalem, 50 miles from Damascus and 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew tells us that Jesus and his followers came to the region (though not necessarily to the city, which was largely pagan) after the performance of three great miracles: the feeding of the 5,000, walking on the water, and the healing of a Phoenician woman's child. It was here that Jesus asked the disciples who He was, and it was here that Peter was inspired by Heaven to answer.  Matthew 16:13-20