8:40 Azotus. Ancient Old Testament Ashdod (1 Sam. 5:1), one of the five Philistine cities, about twenty miles north of Gaza and sixty miles south of Caesarea on the coast. Philip preached the gospel in all the towns along the coast until he reached Caesarea, a large city Herod the Great had rebuilt (near Strato’s Tower). It had an excellent harbor that Herod expanded for important sea traffic (21:8), and it served as headquarters for the Roman procurators such as Pilate, Felix (23:33–24:4), and Festus (25:6). Philip must have settled in Caesarea because years later he still resided there (21:8).