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Decapolis

Illustration of Decapolis

The Decapolis was a league of ten Greco-Roman cities east of the Jordan River, characterized by Hellenistic culture, architecture, and governance under Roman influence during the first century. Jesus ministered in this Gentile region, where he healed a man severely possessed by demons who had lived among tombs, as described in Mark 5 and Matthew 8, after which the restored man proclaimed the miracle throughout the Decapolis. This event, along with later references in Mark 7, illustrates Jesus extending his ministry beyond Jewish territories. Its significance lies in demonstrating the Gospel's reach to non-Jewish populations and foreshadowing the broader mission to all nations in Scripture.

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Details

Region
Canaan
Modern Location
Northwestern Jordan and northeastern Israel/Syria
Strongest connections in Scripture

Key Passages

Jesus Heals the Demoniac

Mark 5:1-20

Jesus delivers a man possessed by a legion of demons in the Decapolis - then sends him home as the first missionary to this Gentile region.

A1nd they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Great Multitudes from Decapolis

Matthew 4:25

Crowds from the Decapolis follow Jesus - the healed demoniac's testimony has prepared this Gentile territory to receive Jesus' ministry.

A25nd there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.