Legion

Jesus and His disciples reached the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near a town called Gergesa, or Gadara, or Gerasa. When they stepped ashore, they were met by a demon-possessed man who formerly lived in the town but was now living among the tombs. He wore no clothing. Although he had often been bound with chains and shackles, he would always break them. And there was no one who had the strength to subdue him. The man was so violent that no one would pass that way. Night and day the man would cry out in the tombs and in the mountains and he would cut himself with stones. 

When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him. Jesus declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

But the man shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Have you come to torture me before the appointed time? I beg You before God not to torture me!” 

“What is your name?” Jesus asked. 

“Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And the demons begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region or into the Abyss.

There on the nearby hillside, a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

“Go!” Jesus told them. 

So, the demons came out of the man and went into the herd of about two thousand pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned in the waters.

Those who were tending the pigs ran off and reported all this in the town and the countryside. 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. Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed. The people were afraid. They begged Jesus to leave their region.

So, Jesus started to leave. As He was getting into the boat, the formerly-possessed man begged to go with Him. But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said. "Tell them how much God has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” 

So, Jesus and His disciples sailed away. And the man began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed. 

(See Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

Editor's Note: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke present these events. But the Gospel of Matthew states there were two demon-possessed men, while the Gospels of Mark and Luke state there was only one man.

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