📖 Biblical Definition
Federation of ten Greco-Roman cities east and southeast of the Sea of Galilee in the Transjordan, predominantly Gentile-Hellenistic in population and culture (Matthew 4:25; Mark 5:20; 7:31). The ten cities (varying lists exist in classical sources; standard names include Damascus, Philadelphia, Raphana, Scythopolis, Gadara, Hippos, Dion, Pella, Gerasa, and Canatha) were granted Hellenistic-Roman civic autonomy and formed a confederation distinct from the surrounding Jewish-Galilean and Nabatean territories. Three Gospel narratives mention Decapolis. (1) Great multitudes followed Jesus from Decapolis among the crowds drawn to His early Galilean ministry (Matthew 4:25). (2) The healing of the Gadarene demoniac took place in the Decapolis country at Gerasa or Gadara (Mark 5:1-20; Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39); after Jesus cast the Legion of demons into the herd of swine, the healed man begged to follow Jesus; Jesus instead commissioned him: Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel (Mark 5:19-20). The Decapolis became the field of the demoniac's witness. (3) The feeding of the four thousand (distinct from the five thousand) took place in Decapolis territory (Mark 7:31-8:9), suggesting Christ's ministry to the predominantly Gentile populations there. The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives Decapolis as the early Gentile-Hellenistic context of Christ's ministry, the field of the cleansed demoniac's witness, and the setting of the four-thousand feeding that paralleled the five-thousand feeding among predominantly Jewish populations.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Federation of ten Greco-Roman cities east/southeast of Sea of Galilee; predominantly Gentile-Hellenistic; field of the cleansed Gadarene demoniac's witness (Mark 5:20); setting of feeding of four thousand (Mark 7:31-8:9).
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DECAPOLIS, proper n. (NT region; Greek Dekapolis, ten cities) Federation of ten Greco-Roman cities east and southeast of the Sea of Galilee in the Transjordan, predominantly Gentile-Hellenistic. Cities (varying lists): Damascus, Philadelphia, Raphana, Scythopolis, Gadara, Hippos, Dion, Pella, Gerasa, Canatha. Three Gospel mentions: (1) Multitudes from Decapolis followed Jesus (Matthew 4:25). (2) Healing of the Gadarene demoniac in Decapolis country; cleansed man commissioned to publish what the Lord had done; began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him (Mark 5:19-20). (3) Feeding of the four thousand in Decapolis territory (Mark 7:31-8:9), parallel to the five-thousand feeding in Jewish territory.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 4:25 — "And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan."
Mark 5:19-20 — "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. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel."
Mark 7:31 — "And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis."
Mark 8:8-9 — "So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal recovery is Decapolis as the early Gentile field of Christ's ministry and the cleansed demoniac's witness, paralleling the Jewish-focused ministry.
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Decapolis as a region name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary recovery is the appreciation of Decapolis as the early Gentile-Hellenistic field of Christ's ministry running parallel to His ministry in predominantly Jewish Galilee. The healing of the demoniac and his subsequent commission to publish what the Lord had done across Decapolis (Mark 5:19-20) anticipates the later Acts mission to the Gentiles. The feeding of the four thousand in Decapolis territory parallels the five-thousand feeding in Jewish territory — two parallel acts of provision for the two parallel mission-fields the gospel would gather. The patriarchal-Reformed reader values Decapolis as an early hint of the Gentile-inclusion that would unfold fully in Acts.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Dekapolis; federation of ten cities; Transjordan; Gentile-Hellenistic field of Christ's early ministry.
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['Greek', 'G1179', 'Dekapolis', 'ten cities']
['Greek', 'G1176', 'deka', 'ten']
['Greek', 'G4172', 'polis', 'city']
Usage
"Decapolis: federation of ten Greco-Roman cities east of Sea of Galilee."
"Field of the cleansed Gadarene demoniac's witness (Mark 5:20)."
"Setting of feeding of four thousand parallel to the five-thousand feeding."