What is Perea?:
The name ?Perea? is Greek for ?beyond? and refers to the region east of the Jordan River ? in other words, ?beyond the Jordan River.? Perea isn?t mentioned in the Bible except for once in Luke, but it?s possible that other gospel authors who describe things occurring ?beyond the Jordan? had Perea in mind. Perea is well attested in other sources, however: Josephus, for example, mentions it frequently.
Where is Perea?:
Perea is located on the western shore of the Jordan River and eastern slopes of Transjordan, extending for about 15 miles beyond the Jordan. Its northern boundary was near the Decapolis city of Pella and it stretched south to the Dead Sea. Perea was mostly Jewish and part of the region controlled by Herod Antipas. It later passed to Herod Agrippa II, but eventually it was absorbed into the province of Syria.
Why is Perea important?:
If the gospel expression ?beyond the Jordan? does refer to Perea (which seems likely), then it was used by gospel authors to emphasize how far Jesus? fame spread. For example, Mark writes:
The name ?Perea? is Greek for ?beyond? and refers to the region east of the Jordan River ? in other words, ?beyond the Jordan River.? Perea isn?t mentioned in the Bible except for once in Luke, but it?s possible that other gospel authors who describe things occurring ?beyond the Jordan? had Perea in mind. Perea is well attested in other sources, however: Josephus, for example, mentions it frequently.
Where is Perea?:
Perea is located on the western shore of the Jordan River and eastern slopes of Transjordan, extending for about 15 miles beyond the Jordan. Its northern boundary was near the Decapolis city of Pella and it stretched south to the Dead Sea. Perea was mostly Jewish and part of the region controlled by Herod Antipas. It later passed to Herod Agrippa II, but eventually it was absorbed into the province of Syria.
Why is Perea important?:
If the gospel expression ?beyond the Jordan? does refer to Perea (which seems likely), then it was used by gospel authors to emphasize how far Jesus? fame spread. For example, Mark writes:
- But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. (Mark 3:7-8)
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