February 8, Site#3

DECAPOLIS / 10 TOWNS
This is the region east of the Jordan that had been given to the tribe of Manassah (Numbers 32:33-42). A league of ten city-states, consisting of Greeks who had come in the wake of Alexander’s conquest, was established after the Romans occupied the area in 65 BC. The Roman historian, Pliny, listed these city-states as Scythopolis, Hippos, Gardara, (UmDeis) Pella (Fahl), Philadelphian (Ammon), Galasa (Jerash), Dion, Kanatha, Damascus, and Raphana. Nine of these cities are east of the Jordan. Only Scythopolis, modern Beth-Shan, is west of the river. The Christian community of Jerusalem fled to Pella during the Jewish revolt of 66-70 according to Eusebius, the fourth century Bishop and historian. These city-states have their own coinage, courts, and army, according to Josephus. Jesus’ reputation as a healer spread here because of the witness of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20; 7:31-37). Pella / Tabaqat Fahl was one of the 10 towns.

Mark 5:1-20; 7:31-37 (the power of a former demoniac’s witness)
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into 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.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”