PER152

The healing of the demoniac of Gadara

Pericope 152 recounts the healing of the demoniac of Gadara, reported by Matthew (8.28-34), Mark (5.1-20) and Luke (8.26-40). Jesus arrives in the territory of Gadara, meets possessed men living among the tombs, and delivers them from the demons by sending them into a herd of pigs that drown in the lake. This episode shows the sovereign power of the Messiah over demonic forces and his ministry extending beyond the borders of Israel.

11 min demoniac of Gadara exorcism Legion demons Jesus the Messiah 9 verses 3 books

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Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew 8.28-34 (King James Version)

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Mark
Mark 5.1-20 (King James Version)

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Luke
Luke 8.26-40 (King James Version)

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
John
John (King James Version) not cited in the book

Technical details

Year AD 32

Location: The territory of Gadara in northern Jordan.

Date: February or March AD 32

Method: We continue with Mark

Note on the method: Mark's chronology seems the most probable

Gadara

Jesus the Messiah arrives in the territory of Gadara.

The healing of the demoniac of Gadara

Pigs

Matthew 8.28-34

Gadara (Umm Qais) is located in northern Jordan, near the border with Israel and Syria. It is about 10 km south of Lake Tiberias () and east of the Jordan Valley. In any case, the scene takes place on the shore of Lake Tiberias, therefore in the territory of the .

Jesus the Messiah and his disciples arrive in the region of Gadara (or Gerasa) by crossing the lake. Upon their arrival, Jesus the Messiah meets men possessed by demons, living among the tombs. These men are so violent that no one dares to pass that way.

Recognizing Jesus the Messiah as the Son of God, the demons beg him not to torment them and ask to be sent into a herd of pigs. Jesus agrees, and the demons enter the pigs, which rush into the lake and perish. The herdsmen flee to report what happened, and the inhabitants of the city, frightened by this event, come to meet Jesus and beg him to leave their region.

This scene highlights the power of Jesus the Messiah over demonic forces, as well as the reaction of the witnesses of this miraculous event.

The accounts of the deliverance of the demoniacs of Gadara are found in the Gospels of Matthew 8.28-34, Mark 5.1-20 and Luke 8.26-40. Each evangelist provides unique details and highlights different aspects of the event.

Matthew 8.28-34

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus meets two men possessed by demons in the region of Gadara. These men are extremely violent and no one dares to pass that way.

The demons, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, beg him not to torment them before the time and ask to be sent into a herd of pigs. Jesus the Messiah agrees, and the demons enter the pigs, which throw themselves into the lake and perish.

The herdsmen flee to announce what happened, and the whole city comes to see Jesus, but the inhabitants, frightened, beg him to leave their region. Matthew emphasizes the presence of two demoniacs, which differs from the accounts of Mark and Luke.

Mark 5.1-20

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus arrives in the country of the Gerasenes and meets a man possessed by an unclean spirit. This man lives among the tombs and no one can subdue him, even with chains. When he sees Jesus the Messiah, he runs and bows down before him, crying out: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you, do not torment me."

Jesus the Messiah asks him his name, and the spirit answers: "Legion, for we are many." The demons beg Jesus to send them into the pigs, and Jesus gives them permission. The pigs then throw themselves into the lake and perish. Mark indicates that the number of pigs is about 2000, which represents a significant quantity.

The possessed man is healed and wants to follow Jesus, but Jesus the Messiah tells him to go back home and tell what the Lord has done for him. Mark concentrates on a single demoniac and gives details about the man's condition and the dialogue between Jesus and the demons.

Luke 8.26-40

The Gospel of Luke presents an account similar to that of Mark. Jesus the Messiah arrives in the country of the Gerasenes and meets a man possessed by demons. This man wears no clothes and lives among the tombs. When he sees Jesus the Messiah, he cries out and bows down before him, imploring Jesus the Messiah not to torment him.

Jesus the Messiah asks the name of the demon, who answers: "Legion." The demons beg Jesus to send them into the pigs, and Jesus the Messiah agrees. The pigs throw themselves into the lake and perish. The herdsmen flee to tell what happened, and the inhabitants, seeing the man healed and seated at the feet of Jesus the Messiah, are frightened and ask Jesus the Messiah to leave.

Luke, like Mark, emphasizes a single demoniac and details the reaction of the inhabitants after the miracle.

Differences between the Accounts

Number of Possessed Men:
Matthew mentions two demoniacs.
Mark and Luke speak of a single demoniac.

Details of the Encounter:
Matthew mainly emphasizes the interaction with the demons and the reaction of the inhabitants.
Mark and Luke give more details about the man's condition before and after the healing, as well as the dialogue between Jesus and the demons.

Context and Location:
All the accounts mention that the event takes place in the region of Gadara or of the Gerasenes, but the geographical details vary slightly.

Reflection on Matthew's Statement

If Mark and Luke speak of a demoniac, they do not specify that he was alone. They obviously focused on the more furious and violent of the two, in any case the one who showed the most hostility toward Jesus the Messiah.

It is possible that Matthew included both possessed men to emphasize the extent of the miracle of Jesus the Messiah, while Mark and Luke chose to concentrate on a single man in order to develop his personal story and his remarkable transformation.

These variations do not affect the essence of the miracle and testify to the richness of the Gospel accounts, offering complementary perspectives on the events of the life of Jesus the Messiah.

Observation

The storm that occurred during the journey to Gadara was unusual because, although the apostles, mostly experienced fishermen, were used to the violent winds of this sea, they were frightened. This leads us to reflect on the real origin of this storm.

Moreover, this violent storm occurred while Jesus was traveling to Gadara to heal a man, and not on his return. It is conceivable that forces, unaware of the exact intention of Jesus the Messiah but suspecting the possibility of a miraculous act, sought to hinder this journey, or even to endanger his safety.