Definition: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down that verse! It’s a really important one in the Bible, and it tells us about Jesus’ early ministry. Here’s what it means in simple terms: Basically, it says that Jesus was being surrounded by a huge crowd – lots and lots of people – from all over: “And there followed him great multitudes…” This means there were many people gathered to see and hear Jesus. “Multitudes” is a fancy word for a really big group! “…from Galilee, and Decapolis…” "Galilee" is where he lived and taught in the region near Jerusalem. "Decapolis" was a large area that included parts of modern-day Israel and Lebanon. So, it means he had people from all over the Levant (the region around the Mediterranean) – including areas further east. “…from Jerusalem…” This refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem. “…and from beyond Jordan.” “Beyond Jordan” meant that the crowd came from both sides of the border between Israel and the region of modern-day Syria and Turkey. So, it was a really big, diverse gathering – a massive crowd of Jews, and also people from other parts of the region. Why is this significant? This verse shows that Jesus was beginning his ministry, which meant he was teaching, healing, and doing good things to people in many different places. It’s a sign that he was gaining popularity and attracting attention. Do you want me to explain anything else about this verse, like: What “multitudes” means? The context of this event in the Bible?