ANTIPATRIS . Hither St. Paul was conducted by night on the way from Jerusalem to Cæsarea ( Acts 23:31 ). It was founded by Herod the Great, and probably stood at the head of the river ‘Aujeh (now Râs el-‘Ain ). Here are the remains of a large castle of the Crusaders, probably to be identified with Mirabel . R. A. S. Macalister.
Antipatris. [Antipat'ris]. The town to which Paul was taken in the night from Jerusalem on his way to Caesarea. Acts 23:31. It was built by Herod the Great in a well-watered spot surrounded by a wood, and named after his father. At Ras el-Ain, 32 6' N, 34 56' E, are ruins which are held to mark the spot. This is 5 or 6 miles nearer Jerusalem than Kefr Saba, which some associate with Antipatris, because Josephus says it was called Kapharsaba before its name was altered by Herod. The former place being nearer to Jerusalem removes the difficulty that some have felt as to the distance of Antipatris being too far to reach in a night ; this reduces it to about 36 miles, and it would be even less by cross roads.
An ti pa’tris - Against (or instead of) one’s’country