Akko

On the north side of Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean Sea is the city of Akko. Akko is also spelled Acco or even Acre. Historically, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Francis of Assisi, and Marco Polo are a few of the names that have visited Akko. The Crusaders fought here and used Akko as their capital in Israel for awhile. Napolean tried to conqueor Akko and failed. Below is the sunset over the Mediterranean.

Along the entrance road to Akko, this looked like a Crusader art object on top of the hill.

A monument by the sea at Akko.

Akko is unique because it is a "walled city" from the days of the Crusaders but built right on the sea. There are not a lot of Biblical references to Akko (Acco). One exception is that the tribe of Asher did not conqueor the city when the Israelites came into the land. Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out. Judges 1:31-32.

The Mediterranean, Biblically known as the Great Sea. Moses declared it as one of the boundaries for the Israelites. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance—the land of Canaan to its boundaries.... As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea for a border; this shall be your western border. Numbers 34:1-6.

The "walled city" of Akko sitting on the Great Sea.

Daniel's vision in Chapter 7 begins with "Heaven" stirring up the Great Sea. Daniel spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. Daniel 7:2.

After Paul's missionary journeys, Luke records in Acts that they came through Akko. Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem via Caesarea. The Greek name for Akko at that time was Ptolemais. And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Acts 21:7-8. Caesarea is 20-25 miles south of Akko on the Mediterranean.

The lighthouse at Akko.

The contrast of the modern city of Akko just on the other side of the walls.

A better view of Akko behind the wall.

Fisherman on the Great Sea. One day the fish of the Great Sea will also be in the Dead Sea when the living water of the Lord Jesus flows from His Temple in Jerusalem to the east. Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east... There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it ... they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. Ezekiel 47:1-10.

Just before sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.

Another fisherman just below the walls around the lighthouse.

The north side of Haifa Bay. The white building on the left with a small, red steeple is an 18th century structure known as the Church of St. John.

The southern wall of Akko.

Breaking waves of the Mediterranean where God Almighty has pre-set their boundaries. Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. Jeremiah 5:22.

Whether it is Akko, Acco, Acre, or Ptolemais, this ancient city is part of the beauty and history of the land of Israel.