Demons Driven Out by the Master

28 When He had come to the other side,(A) to the region of the Gadarenes,[a] two demon-possessed men met Him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What do You have to do with us,[b][c] Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”(B)

30 Now a long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 “If You drive us out,” the demons begged Him, “send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 “Go!” He told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs. And suddenly the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33 Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything—especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed. 34 At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 8:28 Other mss read Gergesenes
  2. Matthew 8:29 Other mss add Jesus
  3. Matthew 8:29 Lit What to us and to You

Demons Driven Out by the Master

Then(A) they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean(B) spirit(C) came out of the tombs(D) and met Him. He lived in the tombs.(E) No one was able to restrain him anymore—even with chains(F) because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed(G) the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue(H) him. And always, night(I) and day, he was crying out among the tombs(J) and in the mountains(K) and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him. And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me,[b] Jesus, Son(L) of the Most High God?(M) I beg[c] You before God, don’t torment(N) me!” For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean(O) spirit!”(P)

“What is your name?” He asked him.

“My name is Legion,”[d](Q) he answered Him, “because we are many.” 10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region.

11 Now a large herd of pigs(R) was there, feeding(S) on the hillside. 12 The demons[e] begged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.” 13 And He gave them permission. Then the unclean(T) spirits(U) came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there. 14 The men who tended them[f] ran off(V) and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed(W) by the legion,(X) sitting there, dressed and in his right mind;(Y) and they were afraid.(Z) 16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed(AA) man and told about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.

18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. 19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord(AB) has done(AC) for you and how He has had mercy on you.” 20 So he went out and began to proclaim(AD) in the Decapolis(AE) how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 5:1 Some mss read Gadarenes; other mss read Gergesenes
  2. Mark 5:7 Lit What to me and to You
  3. Mark 5:7 Or adjure
  4. Mark 5:9 A Roman legion contained up to 6,000 soldiers; here legion indicates a large number.
  5. Mark 5:12 Other mss read All the demons
  6. Mark 5:14 Other mss read tended the pigs

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