Decapolis is derived from the Greek word meaning Ten Cities (deka meaning ten, and polis meaning a city). They were a group of cities generally located to the east of the The Sea Of Galilee. During His human lifetime, Jesus Christ was well familiar with the neighboring Decapolis from His home on the north shore of the sea, at Capernaum, after He left Nazareth.

The cities were Scythopolis, ("city of the Scythians" - ancient Bethshean, the only one of the Decapolis located to the west of the Jordan River), Hippus, Gadara, Pella (to which the Christians fled just before the destruction of Jerusalem), Philadelphia, (ancient Rabbath-ammon), Gerasa, Dion, Canatha, Raphana, and Damascus. According to Ptolomy, their number was later increased to eighteen, although the others are not identified with certainty.