GERASA, or Gergesa, a City beyond, and to the East of the Dead Sea. By some it is made part of Cele-Syria, by others of Arabia; and is placed among the Cities of the Decapolis. St. Matthew says, that Jesus Christ being gone into the country of the Gergesenes, two men possessed with Devils, who dwelt among the tombs, met him, and said, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? They added, if thou cast us out, suffer us to go into the herd of swine. Jesus answered them, Go. And when they were come out, they entred into the herd of swine, which ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
The Greek editions of St. Matthew, instead of Gerasenians, have Gergesenes; and some Greek copies read Gadarens. St. Luke and St. Mark have the same reading. Origen. in Joan.Origen thinks, that the true reading is neither Gerasa nor Gedara, since neither of these Cities is near the sea, nor have they any precipices about them, like those near the City, where Jesus cured the two possessed persons. He believes therefore, that the City of Gergesa is meant in this place, which lies upon the Lake of Tiberias, where in his time people shewed the rocks and precipices, from whence the swine ran down into the lake.