Decapolis overview with Gamla, Hippos, Gadara and Gerasa

Jesus visited the region of the Decapolis and healed a possessed man from the region of Gadara and Gerasa. This video will help you explain several aspects of the story. 

First, one of the 10 original cities of the Decapolis was built just across the lake from Capernaum. This was the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee, and almost certainly, the disciples weren't excited about going to such a non-Jewish place. This video has footage from Hippos (also known as Susita) and shows the steep hills that surrounded the small city. It's easy to envision crazed pigs running into the lake from these hills.

Second, you'll see the town of Gamla, which had gone to great lengths to protect itself from Greek and Roman ideology. Gamla was a devout Jewish town in the Golan Heights positioned between the conservative Jewish communities on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, and the growing Decapolis movement.

Third, it also helps explain the relationship of nearby Gadara and Gerasa. The different names in the Gospels for the "Gadarene" or "Gerasene" demoniac reflect two major cities that were nearby. Both descriptions are correct. 

For more context on this story, watch the video from Day 16 in our Gospel of Mark reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app.