Parallel LUKE 8:26

8:26a

Then: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Some English versions, such as the KJV, translate it that way. Other versions, such as the NIV, CEV, and GNT, do not translate this conjunction. But other versions say “So” (NET, NLT) or “Then” (BSB, NASB, NRSV). Connect 4:4a to 4:3b in a way that is natural in your language.

they: The word they refers to Jesus and his disciples. Refer to them here at the beginning of this story in a natural way in your language.

sailed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sailed refers to traveling by boat (using either oars or sails). It specifically means “to come from the deep water to the shore.” It refers here to the end of the trip that Jesus and his disciples started in 8:22. Some languages may have a specific word for this. For example:

landed (REB)

Other ways to indicate this are:

they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes (RSV)

sailed across Lake Galilee and came to shore (CEV)

the region of the Gerasenes: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the Gerasenes refers to people who lived in the city called “Gerasa”Gerasa was about 35 miles (55 kilometers) from the southeast shore of Lake Galilee. So using this term in connection with Jesus’ arrival on the northeast shore of the Lake has troubled Bible scholars through the centuries (leading to the textual variants). One suggested resolution is that since Gerasa was one of the prominent cities of the Decapolis, the name may have been used to describe the whole region. and the countryside around it. Gerasenes were mostly non-Jewish people. The phrase the region of the Gerasenes means “the region where the Gerasene people lived.” Some other ways to translate this are:

region/area of the Gerasa people

place where people called the Gerasenes lived

region of the city of Gerasa and around it

Gerasenes: There is a textual issue in this verse:

1. Some Greek manuscripts have Gerasenes, people from the town of Gerasa. (BSB, NIV, GNT, CEV, GW, JBP, NASB, NET, NCV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. Other Greek manuscripts have Gadarenes, people from the town of Gadara. (KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), which is followed by most English versions.The textual decision is a complicated one. The three main variants (common also to the parallel passages in Matthew 8:28 and Mark 5:1) all have points in their favor as well as difficulties:· Gerasenes (of the city of Gerasa): This reading is the choice of the UBS text committee on the basis of early attestation in both the Alexandrian and Western text types. However, Gerasa is geographically difficult in that it was about 35 miles (55 kilometers) from the lake and was not likely to control land along the lakeshore (the Decapolis cities of Gadara and Hippo were closer to the lake).· Gadarenes (of the city of Gadara): Gadara was about 5–6 miles (9 kilometers) from the lakeshore and according to Josephus did control land all the way to the shore. However this reading is less well attested in Luke and Mark.· Gergesenes (of the village of Gergesa): Many scholars identify Gergesa with a small village on the northeast coast of the lake whose ruins have been recently discovered. The area has steep banks going down to the lake and this seems to accord well with biblical account. But even if this is the likely location of the miracle, it does not necessarily solve the textual problem. Tony Pope points out (CONNOT, Mark 5:1) that it is not likely that the phrase “the region of” would be used in connection with a small village.For further reading, see Metzger for Matthew 8:28 and Jerusalem Perspective articles “Gergesa: Site of the Demoniac’s Healing” by Mendel Nun (No. 50 January/March, 1996) and “Gergesa, Gerasa, or Gadara? Where Did Jesus’ Miracle Occur?” by Ze’ev Safrai (No. 51 April/June, 1996). However, if the national language version in the area follows option (2), it is recommended that you put this in a footnote. For example:

Other Greek manuscripts and the [national language version] have “Gadarenes.”

8:26b

across the lake from Galilee: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as across the lake from Galilee is literally “opposite Galilee.” Because “opposite” here means “on the opposite side of the lake from Galilee,” it may be clearer to say across the lake from Galilee, as the BSB does.

They sailed from the northwest shore of the lake in the province of Galilee to the northeast shore. If your language requires or prefers to indicate the direction of travel, indicate that they were sailing east.