Bible Geography · Northeast of the Jordan River · c. 63 BC – AD 100
Decapolis
Description
The Decapolis was a confederation of ten (later more) Greco-Roman cities established after Pompey's conquest in 63 BC, stretching from Damascus in the north to Philadelphia (modern Amman) in the south. These cities were predominantly Gentile, featuring Greek-style temples, theaters, and colonnaded streets, providing a sharp cultural contrast to Jewish Galilee nearby.
Significance
Jesus' ministry in the Decapolis demonstrates his concern for Gentiles and foreshadows the universal scope of the gospel. After healing the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus sent him home to proclaim what God had done — an early mission to the Gentile world that prepared the way for the later Gentile church.
Key Events
Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee into the Decapolis region; he healed a demoniac in the region of the Gerasenes; Jesus fed four thousand people in the Decapolis; large crowds from the Decapolis followed him.
Modern Context
The cities of the ancient Decapolis lie today in northern Jordan and southern Syria. Jerash (ancient Gerasa) is among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world and gives a vivid sense of what a Decapolis city looked like in Jesus' day.