Celebrity Infinity: From Paganism to Christianity:
The Temples and Empires of the New Testament World
Sail with Seeing His World through the great cities and landscapes that shaped the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys and the expansion of Christianity. Experience Athens, Rome, Malta, Rhodes, Crete, Sicily, Herculaneum, Santorini, Barcelona, and more, exploring the pagan temples, imperial centers, and cultural crossroads where the Christian faith first took root.
This Seeing His World Seminar explores the pagan religious, cultural, and political world into which Christianity was born. Set against the backdrop of the ancient Mediterranean, the seminar examines the temples, gods, philosophies, and imperial systems that dominated the Greco-Roman world and shaped the historical setting of the New Testament. Far from emerging in a spiritual vacuum, Christianity confronted a world saturated with polytheism, emperor worship, mystery cults, and monumental religious architecture.
Through focused teaching and historical analysis, participants will explore how the gospel message interacted with, challenged, and ultimately transformed this pagan environment. Archaeological evidence—temples, inscriptions, civic spaces, altars, and urban remains—is brought into dialogue with the biblical text to illuminate the lived reality of the first Christians and the world in which the apostles preached. Particular attention is given to major centers of pagan worship and imperial power, including Athens, Rhodes, Ephesus, Crete, Malta, Sicily, and Rome.
This seminar aims to deepen confidence in the historical reliability of the New Testament by grounding Scripture firmly within its real-world context. By examining the archaeological and cultural setting of the first century, participants gain a clearer understanding of how Christianity moved from a persecuted minority faith to a transformative force that reshaped the ancient world—revealing not only the contrast between paganism and Christianity, but the power of the gospel to change history.
Depart the United States to begin your journey exploring the great cities and landscapes that shaped the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys and the expansion of Christianity.
Begin your journey where the New Testament world was intellectually and culturally forged.
This immersive pre-cruise experience includes two hotel nights with breakfast, two full days of guided touring, and transportation to the cruise ship on October 25. In Athens, walk through the philosophical heart of the Greco-Roman world—exploring the Acropolis, Mars Hill (Areopagus), and surrounding ancient sites where Paul proclaimed the “unknown God” (Acts 17). In Corinth, stand before the Bema, where Paul was tried, visit the Temple of Apollo, and trace the geography behind Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Every stop is framed biblically, historically, and archaeologically to set the stage for the journey ahead.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore and local guide.
Arrive in Greece and begin your journey. Transportation to hotel on your own.
Athens – Full-day city tour.
Afternoon transportation to the cruise ship.
Athens (Piraeus), Greece. Cruise departs at 5:00 PM.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with no organized tours scheduled.
Mykonos, Greece. No tours: Optional Group activity TBA.
Rhodes, Greece. Transportation provided to Lindos.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore
Explore the island of Rhodes, a strategic crossroads of the ancient Mediterranean. Visit Lindos, crowned by its ancient acropolis overlooking the Aegean Sea, followed by time at St. Paul’s Bay, traditionally associated with the Apostle Paul’s stop during his missionary travels (Acts 21). This excursion highlights the spread of early Christianity through the Greek islands and the maritime routes that carried the Gospel outward from Jerusalem.
Santorini, Greece. No tours.
Crete (Chania), Greece. Guided tour including Aptera, Chania, and Kissamos.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore and local guide
A full-day journey through western Crete, illuminating the world behind Paul’s letter to Titus.
Aptera reveals Crete’s military and political importance during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Chania reflects Crete’s layered history under Greek, Roman, and later powers.
Kissamos (ancient Polyrrhenia/Kastelli Kissamos) was an active Roman city during the time of the Apostle Paul, and today houses a museum containing some of the finest Roman mosaics in the Mediterranean, offering a vivid window into first-century Roman life in the very era of early Christianity.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with no organized tours scheduled.
Valletta, Malta. Transportation provided to St. Paul’s Bay and St. Paul’s Grotto.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore
Step directly into the dramatic narrative of Acts 27–28. Visit St. Paul’s Bay, the traditional site of Paul’s shipwreck, and St. Paul’s Grotto, associated with his three-month ministry on the island. This excursion powerfully illustrates God’s providence, the spread of the Gospel beyond Judea, and the historical reliability of Luke’s account in Acts.
Messina, Sicily, Italy. Transportation provided to Taormina.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore
Travel from Messina to the stunning hill town of Taormina, overlooking the Ionian Sea. Visit the ancient Greek Theater, with sweeping views of Mount Etna, and explore the historic center. Sicily’s position between East and West made it a vital bridge between Greek, Roman, and early Christian worlds, helping frame the broader context of Paul’s Mediterranean mission.
Salerno, Italy. Guided tour with transportation to Paestum and the Amalfi Coast.
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore and local guide
A deeply archaeological day exploring the classical world that shaped early Christianity.
Herculaneum (Ercolano) offers one of the most remarkably preserved Roman cities in existence, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Paestum showcases some of the best-preserved Greek temples anywhere in the world, illustrating the pagan religious landscape into which Christianity emerged.
Round-trip transportation from Salerno with expert historical interpretation throughout.
Full-day guided tour with private transportation, including:
Colosseum
Roman Forum
Trevi Fountain
St. Peter’s Basilica
Appian Way
No Vatican Museums tour included
Guided by Dr. Jonathan Moore and local guide
Walk through the very center of Imperial power where Christianity would ultimately confront and transform the Roman world.
This guided excursion includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Appian Way, Trevi Fountain, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Trace the path of persecution, martyrdom, and eventual triumph of the early Church, with special attention to Paul’s imprisonment and witness in Rome.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea with no organized tours scheduled.
Barcelona, Spain. Disembarkation. Tours on your own / Fly home.
Mykonos
Santorini
Barcelona
Enjoy these iconic destinations independently.
*Cruise pricing does not include shore excursions. The Excursion Package and Seminar is priced separately at $1,300 per person and includes transportation, professional guides, and most site entrance fees.
*Cruise pricing also does NOT include international airfare, gratuities, amenity packages, internet access, or other onboard purchases.
*The excursion package offered above is significantly more affordable than comparable cruise-line excursions and is designed to provide a more personal and immersive experience. All excursions will be conducted privately with our own transportation and professional local guides (where indicated), allowing for greater flexibility and depth. Each experience is intentionally crafted to enhance understanding of the historical, archaeological, and cultural context of the Bible, offering an intimate setting that encourages meaningful learning beyond standard group tours.
* This journey is offered as a not-for-profit educational seminar hosted by Seeing His World, a division of Moore Discipleship Missions, a registered 501(c)(3) organization
Dr. Jonathan Moore
Dr. Jonathan Moore is a full-time physician with Master’s degrees in Education and Bible as well as a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and Archaeology. Founder of ‘Seeing the World Through His Eyes,’ Moore has traveled extensively all over the world including Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Italy and throughout the Mediterranean. Moore is an adjunct professor at Freed Hardeman University Graduate School of Theology. Jonathan and his wife Kim have three children and three grandchildren.
