The Demons and the Pigs

(Matthew 8:28–34, Mark 5:1–20)

Then they sailed[fn] to the region of the Gadarenes,[fn] vvv vvv across [the lake] from Galilee. 27 When [Jesus] stepped vvv vvv ashore, He was met by a man from the town vvv [who had been] demon-possessed for a long time. vvv [This man] had not worn[fn] clothing [or] vvv lived in a house, but [he stayed] in the tombs.

28 

When [the man] saw Jesus, he cried out [and] fell down before Him, vvv shouting in a loud voice“What do You [want] with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!” 29 For [Jesus] had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and [though] he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains [and] been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 

“What is your name?” Jesus asked

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And he kept begging[fn] [Jesus] not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 

There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. [So] [the demons] begged [Jesus] to let them enter [the pigs], and He gave them permission

33 

Then the demons came out of the man [and] went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 

When those tending [the pigs] saw what had happened, they ran off[fn] and reported [this] in the town and countryside. 35 [So] [the people] went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, those who had seen [it] reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

37 

Then all the people of the region of the Gadarenes asked [Jesus] to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat [and] started back.

38 

The man whom the demons had left begged to go with [Jesus]. But Jesus[fn] sent him away saying, 39 “Return vvv vvv vvv home and describe how much God has done for you.” So [the man] went away [and] proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

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