From Delphi to Banias: Two Gates, Two Kingdoms, One Question

In the ancient world, geography was spiritual.

Mountains weren’t just high places—they were sacred. Springs weren’t just water sources—they were portals. Two such places, separated by hundreds of miles but united by spiritual weight, stand out: Delphi in Greece and Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi) in northern Israel.

Both were known as gateways to the divine—or to the underworld. But only one became the backdrop for the most important question ever asked.

Delphi: The Oracle of the Gods

Perched on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Delphi was the spiritual heart of the Greek world. Here, the Temple of Apollo housed the famous oracle—Pythia, a priestess believed to speak the words of the god Apollo himself.

People came from every corner of the empire to ask questions of fate, receive divine guidance, and glimpse the will of the gods. Beneath the temple, a deep chasm in the earth was said to release vapors from the underworld, making this site one of the most spiritually charged in Greek mythology.

Delphi was the center of philosophy, mystery, and destiny—but also ambiguity, fear, and control.

Banias: The Pagan Gateway to the Underworld

Now travel east—to the foot of Mount Hermon, where Banias (called Caesarea Philippi in the time of Jesus) stood as a place of pagan worship and spiritual darkness. Built around a massive rock and spring, this site was dedicated to Pan, the half-goat, half-man god of chaos and fertility.

A gaping cave at the spring’s base was known as the “Gates of Hades.” Ancient pagans believed that spirits traveled between the underworld and the earth through this cavern. Ritual sacrifices—even human ones—were performed to appease unseen forces and ensure prosperity.

Banias was known for spiritual excess, fear, and confusion—and it’s here, in the shadow of all that darkness, that Jesus took His disciples.

The Question That Changes Everything

In Matthew 16, Jesus leads His disciples into the very heart of paganism—not Jerusalem, not Galilee, but Caesarea Philippi, the “Delphi of Israel,” where idols loomed and unclean rituals reigned.

And there, with the Gates of Hades behind Him, He asks:

“Who do you say that I am?”
(Matthew 16:15)

It’s no accident.

This moment wasn’t just about Peter’s confession. It was a declaration of spiritual authority—in the very place that symbolized demonic strongholds, Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of the Living God.

And then, He says something radical:

“On this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
(Matthew 16:18)

In other words:

The kingdoms of this world—including their dark gates—are no match for Mine.

Why It Matters

When you stand at Delphi, you sense the weight of man’s search for answers.
When you stand at Banias, you feel the contrast—God’s direct revelation in a place once dominated by chaos.

And when you connect the two, you realize something powerful:

Humanity has always sought the divine.

But only Jesus steps into the center of that longing and says,
“I am the Way.”

Come See for Yourself

At Waypoint Expeditions, we invite travelers to explore these ancient crossroads with fresh eyes and open hearts. As you trace the steps of Paul in Delphi, and stand with Jesus at Banias, you’ll gain more than insight—you’ll experience the authority of Christ in the face of darkness.

Two gates.
Two questions.
One unshakable Kingdom.