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Decapolis (A Group of Ten City States)
Meaning
Decapolis was a group or federation of ten Roman city-states. It was located southeast of the Sea of Galilee. This federation was established by the Roman General Pompey in 64 BC as a means of building up trade and providing a Roman defense for the region. Pompey had invaded Syria and Judea and he created this federation of city-states to help ensure Romes hold on the area. From the historian Pliny the Elder, who lived 23-79 AD we know the federation included Sythopolis (Bet She’an), Hippos (Suseih), Gadara, Pella, Philadelphia (Amman), Gerasa, Dion, Kanatha, Damascus and Raphana.
One interesting note is these cities chosen by Pompey were not populated primarily by Jews, but by the Greeks who were settling into the area during the intertestamental period. The intertestamental period was the period of time between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament. This was a time when God was preparing the world for the incarnation of Christ and the spread of the Gospel. However, this led to conflicts because of the clash of cultures between the Greeks and the Jewish people. There is much Bible history from the New Testament, which takes place in the region of Decapolis.
“Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” (Gospel of Matthew 4:25)
“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.” (Gospel of Mark 7:31-35)
“When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?'” (Gospel of Matthew 8:28-28)