Bible Commentaries

The Gerasenes (των Γερασηνων — tōn Gerasēnōn). Like Luke 8:26 while Matthew 8:28 has “the Gadarenes.” The ruins of the village Khersa (Gerasa) probably point to this site which is in the district of Gadara some six miles southeastward, not to the city of Gerasa some thirty miles away.

Out of the boat (εκ του πλοιου — ek tou ploiou). Straightway (ευτυς — euthus) Mark says, using the genitive absolute (εχελτοντος αυτου — exelthontos autou) and then repeating αυτωι — autōi associative instrumental after απηντησεν — apēntēsen The demoniac greeted Jesus at once. Mark and Luke 9:27 mention only one man while Matthew notes two demoniacs, perhaps one more violent than the other. Each of the Gospels has a different phrase. Mark has “a man with an unclean spirit” (εν πνευματι ακαταρτωι — en pneumati akathartōi), Matthew 8:28 “two possessed with demons” (δυο δαιμονιζομενοι — duo daimonizomenoi), Luke 8:27 “one having demons” (τις εχων δαιμονια — tis echōn daimonia). Mark has many touches about this miracle not retained in Matthew and Luke. See notes on Matthew 8:28.

No man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain (ουδε αλυσει ουδεις εδυνατο αυτον δησαι — oude halusei oudeis edunato auton dēsai). Instrumental case αλυσει — halusei a handcuff (α — a privative and λυω — luō to loosen). But this demoniac snapped a handcuff as if a string.

Often bound (πολλακις δεδεσται — pollakis dedesthai). Perfect passive infinitive, state of completion. With fetters (πεδαις — pedais from πεζα — peza foot, instep) and chains, bound hand and foot, but all to no purpose. The English plural of foot is feet (Anglo-Saxon fot, fet) and fetter is feeter.

Rent asunder (διεσπασται — diespāsthai). Drawn (σπαω — spaō) in two (δια — diȧ same root as δυο — duo two). Perfect passive infinitive.

Broken in pieces (συντετριπται — suntetriphthai Perfect passive infinitive again, from συντριβω — suntribō to rub together. Rubbed together, crushed together. Perhaps the neighbours who told the story could point to broken fragments of chains and fetters. The fetters may have been cords, or even wooden stocks and not chains.

No man had strength to tame him (ουδεις ισχυεν αυτον δαμασαι — oudeis ischuen auton damasai). Imperfect tense. He roamed at will like a lion in the jungle.

He was crying out, and cutting himself with stones (ην κραζων και κατακοπτων εαυτον λιτοις — ēn krazōn kai katakoptōn heauton lithois). Further vivid details by Mark. Night and day his loud scream or screech could be heard like other demoniacs (cf. Mark 1:26; Mark 3:11; Mark 9:26). The verb for cutting himself occurs here only in the N.T., though an old verb. It means to cut down (perfective use of κατα — katȧ). We say cut up, gash, hack to pieces. Perhaps he was scarred all over with such gashes during his moments of wild frenzy night and day in the tombs and on the mountains. Periphrastic imperfect active with ην — ēn and the participles.

Ran and worshipped (εδραμεν και προσεκυνησεν — edramen kai prosekunēsen). “At first perhaps with hostile intentions. The onrush of the naked yelling maniac must have tried the newly recovered confidence of the Twelve. We can imagine their surprise when, on approaching, he threw himself on his knees” (Swete).

I adjure thee by God (ορκιζω σε τον τεον — horkizō se ton theon). The demoniac puts Jesus on oath (two accusatives) after the startled outcry just like the one in Mark 1:24, which see. He calls Jesus here “son of the Most High God” (υιε του τεου του υπσιστου — huie tou theou tou hupsistou) as in Luke 8:28 (cf. Genesis 14:18.).

Torment me not (μη με βασανισηις — mē me basanisēis). Prohibition with μη — mē and the ingressive aorist subjunctive. The word means to test metals and then to test one by torture (cf. our “third degree”). Same word in all three Gospels.

For he said (ελεγεν γαρ — elegen gar). For he had been saying (progressive imperfect). Jesus had already repeatedly ordered the demon to come out of the man whereat the demon made his outcry to Jesus and protested. Matthew 8:29 had “before the time” (προ καιρου — pro kairou) and Matthew 8:31 shows that the demons did not want to go back to the abyss (την αβυσσον — tēn abusson) right now. That was their real home, but they did not wish to return to the place of torment just now.

My name is Legion (Λεγιων ονομα μοι — Legiōn onoma moi). So Luke 8:30, but not Matthew. Latin word (legio). A full Roman legion had 6,826 men. See note on Matthew 26:53. This may not have been a full legion, for Mark 5:13 notes that the number of hogs was “about two thousand.” Of course, a stickler for words might say that each hog had several demons.

And he gave them leave (και επετρεπσεν αυτοις — kai epetrepsen autois). These words present the crucial difficulty for interpreters as to why Jesus allowed the demons to enter the hogs and destroy them instead of sending them back to the abyss. Certainly it was better for hogs to perish than men, but this loss of property raises a difficulty of its own akin to the problem of tornadoes and earthquakes. The question of one man containing so many demons is difficult also, but not much more so than how one demon can dwell in a man and make his home there. One is reminded of the man out of whom a demon was cast, but the demon came back with seven other demons and took possession. Gould thinks that this man with a legion of demons merely makes a historical exaggeration. “I feel as if I were possessed by a thousand devils.” That is too easy an explanation. See note on Matthew 8:32 for “rushed down the steep.”

They were choked (epnigonto). Imperfect tense picturing graphically the disappearance of pig after pig in the sea. Luke 8:33 has apegnigē choked off, constative second aorist passive indicative, treated as a whole, Matthew 8:32 merely has “perished” (επνιγοντο — apethanon died).

And in the country (και εις τους αγρους — kai eis tous agrous). Mark adds this to “the city.” In the fields and in the city as the excited men ran they told the tale of the destruction of the hogs. They came to see (ηλτον ιδειν — ēlthon idein). All the city came out (Matthew), they went out to see (Luke).

They come to Jesus (ερχονται προς τον Ιησουν — erchontai pros ton Iēsoun). Vivid present. To Jesus as the cause of it all, “to meet Jesus” (εις υπαντησιν Ιησου — eis hupantēsin Iēsou Matthew 8:34).

And behold (τεωρουσιν — theōrousin). Present tense again.

And they were afraid (και εποβητησαν — kai ephobēthēsan). They became afraid. Mark drops back to the ingressive aorist tense (passive voice). They had all been afraid of the man, but there he was “sitting clothed and in his right mind,” (κατημενον ιματισμενον και σωπρονουντα — kathēmenon himatismenon kai sōphronounta Note the participles). “At the feet of Jesus,” Luke adds (Luke 8:35). For a long time he had worn no clothes (Luke 8:17). Here was the healing of the wild man and the destruction of the hogs all by this same Jesus.

To depart from their borders (απελτειν απο των οριων — apelthein apo tōn horiōn). Once before the people of Nazareth had driven Jesus out of the city (Luke 4:16-31). Soon they will do it again on his return there (Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 13:54-58). Here in Decapolis pagan influence was strong and the owners of the hogs cared more for the loss of their property than for the healing of the wild demoniac. In the clash between business and spiritual welfare business came first with them as often today. All three Gospels tell of the request for Jesus to leave. They feared the power of Jesus and wanted no further interference with their business affairs.

As he was entering (εμβαινοντος αυτου — embainontos autou). The man began to beseech him (παρεκαλει — parekalei) before it was too late.

Go to thy house unto thy friends (υπαγε εις τον οικον σου προς τους σους — Hupage eis ton oikon sou pros tous sous). “To thy own folks” rather than “thy friends.” Certainly no people needed the message about Christ more than these people who were begging Jesus to leave. Jesus had greatly blessed this man and so gave him the hardest task of all, to go home and witness there for Christ. In Galilee Jesus had several times forbidden the healed to tell what he had done for them because of the undue excitement and misunderstanding. But here it was different. There was no danger of too much enthusiasm for Christ in this environment.

He went his way (απηλτεν — apēlthen). He went off and did as Jesus told him. He heralded (κηρυσσειν — kērussein) or published the story till all over Decapolis men marvelled (εταυμαζον — ethaumazon) at what Jesus did, kept on marvelling (imperfect tense). The man had a greater opportunity for Christ right in his home land than anywhere else. They all knew this once wild demoniac who now was a new man in Christ Jesus. Thousands of like cases of conversion under Christ‘s power have happened in rescue missions in our cities.

My little daughter (το τυγατριον μου — to thugatrion mou). Diminutive of τυγατηρ — thugatēr (Matthew 9:18). “This little endearing touch in the use of the diminutive is peculiar to Mark” (Vincent). “Is at the point of death” (εσχατως εχει — eschatōs echei). Has it in the last stages. Matthew 9:18 has: “has just died” (αρτι ετελευσεν — arti eteleusen), Luke “she lay a dying” (απετνησκεν — apethnēsken imperfect, she was dying). It was a tragic moment for Jairus.

I pray thee, not in the Greek. This ellipsis before ινα — hina not uncommon, a sort of imperative use of ινα — hina and the subjunctive in the Koiné (Robertson, Grammar, p. 943).

He went with him (απηλτεν — apēlthen). Aorist tense. Went off with him promptly, but a great multitude followed him (ηκολουτει — ēkolouthei), was following, kept following (imperfect tense).

They thronged him (συνετλιβον αυτον — sunethlibon auton). Imperfect tense again. Only example of (here and in Mark 5:31) this compound verb in the N.T., common in old Greek. Were pressing Jesus so that he could hardly move because of the jam, or even to breathe (συνεπνιγον — sunepnigon Luke 8:42).

Had suffered many things of many physicians (πολλα πατουσα υπο πολλων ιατρων — polla pathousa hupo pollōn iatrōn). A pathetic picture of a woman with a chronic case who had tried doctor after doctor.

Had spent all that she had (δαπανησασα τα παρ αυτης παντα — dapanēsasa ta par' autēs panta). Having spent the all from herself, all her resources. For the idiom with παρα — para see note on Luke 10:7; Philemon 4:18. The tragedy of it was that she “was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (μηδεν ωπελητεισα αλλα μαλλον εις το χειρον ελτουσα — mēden ōphelētheisa alla māllon eis to cheiron elthousa). Her money was gone, her disease was gaining on her, her one chance came now with Jesus. Matthew says nothing about her experience with the doctors and Luke 8:43 merely says that she “had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed of any,” a plain chronic case. Luke the physician neatly takes care of the physicians. But they were not to blame. She had a disease that they did not know how to cure. Vincent quotes a prescription for an issue of blood as given in the Talmud which gives one a most grateful feeling that he is not under the care of doctors of that nature. The only parallel today is Chinese medicine of the old sort before modern medical schools came.

If I touch but his garments (Εαν απσωμαι καν των ιματιων αυτου — Ean hapsōmai k'an tōn himatiōn autou). She was timid and shy from her disease and did not wish to attract attention. So she crept up in the crowd and touched the hem or border of his garment (κρασπεδον — kraspedon) according to Matthew 9:20 and Luke 8:44.

She felt in her body (εγνω τωι σωματι — egnō tōi sōmati). She knew, the verb means. She said to herself,

I am healed (ιαμαι — iāmai). Ιαται — Iātai retains the perfect passive in the indirect discourse. It was a vivid moment of joy for her. The plague (μαστιγος — mastigos) or scourge was a whip used in flagellations as on Paul to find out his guilt (Acts 22:24, cf. Hebrews 11:26). It is an old word that was used for afflictions regarded as a scourge from God. See note on Mark 3:10.

Perceiving in himself (επιγνους εν εαυτωι — epignous en heautōi). She thought, perhaps, that the touch of Christ‘s garment would cure her without his knowing it, a foolish fancy, no doubt, but one due to her excessive timidity. Jesus felt in his own consciousness. The Greek idiom more exactly means: “Jesus perceiving in himself the power from him go out” (την εχ αυτου δυναμιν εχελτουσαν — tēn ex autou dunamin exelthousan). The aorist participle here is punctiliar simply and timeless and can be illustrated by Luke 10:18: “I was beholding Satan fall” (ετεωρουν τον Σαταναν πεσοντα — etheōroun ton Satanān pesonta), where πεσοντα — pesonta does not mean fallen (πεπτωκοτα — peptōkota) as in Revelation 9:1 nor falling (πιπτοντα — piptonta) but simply the constative aorist fall (Robertson, Grammar, p. 684). So here Jesus means to say: “I felt in myself the power from me go.” Scholars argue whether in this instance Jesus healed the woman by conscious will or by unconscious response to her appeal. Some even argue that the actual healing took place after Jesus became aware of the woman‘s reaching for help by touching his garment. What we do know is that Jesus was conscious of the going out of power from himself. Luke 8:46 uses εγνων — egnōn (personal knowledge), but Mark has επιγνους — epignous (personal and additional, clear knowledge). One may remark that no real good can be done without the outgoing of power. That is true of mother, preacher, teacher, doctor.

Who touched my garments? (Τις μου ηπσατο των ιματιων — Tis mou hēpsato tōn himatiōṉ). More exactly,

Who touched me on my clothes; The Greek verb uses two genitives, of the person and the thing. It was a dramatic moment for Jesus and for the timid woman. Later it was a common practice for the crowds to touch the hem of Christ‘s garments and be healed (Mark 6:56). But here Jesus chose to single out this case for examination. There was no magic in the garments of Jesus. Perhaps there was superstition in the woman‘s mind, but Jesus honoured her darkened faith as in the case of Peter‘s shadow and Paul‘s handkerchief.

Thronging thee (συντλιβοντα σε — sunthlibonta se). See Mark 5:24. The disciples were amazed at the sensitiveness of Jesus to the touch of the crowd. They little understood the drain on Jesus from all this healing that pulled at his heart-strings and exhausted his nervous energy even though the Son of God. He had the utmost human sympathy.

And he looked round about (και περιεβλεπετο — kai perieblepeto). Imperfect middle indicative. He kept looking around to find out. The answer of Jesus to the protest of the disciples was this scrutinizing gaze (see already Mark 3:5, Mark 3:34). Jesus knew the difference between touch and touch (Bruce).

Fearing and trembling, knowing (ποβητεισα και τρεμουσα ειδυια — phobētheisa kai tremousa γεγονεν — eiduia). These participles vividly portray this woman who had tried to hide in the crowd. She had heard Christ‘s question and felt his gaze. She had to come and confess, for something “has happened” (προσεπεσεν αυτωι — gegonen second perfect active indicative, still true) to her.

Fell down before him (πασαν την αλητειαν — prosepesen autōi). That was the only proper attitude now.

All the truth (pāsan tēn alētheian). Secrecy was no longer possible. She told “the pitiful tale of chronic misery” (Bruce).

Go in peace (υπαγε εις ειρηνην — Hupage eis eirēnēn). She found sympathy, healing, and pardon for her sins, apparently. Peace here may have more the idea of the Hebrew ιστι υγιης απο της μαστιγος σου — shalōm health of body and soul. So Jesus adds: “Be whole of thy plague” (isthi hugiēs apo tēs mastigos sou). Continue whole and well.

While he yet spake (Ετι αυτου λαλουντος — Eti autou lalountos). Genitive absolute. Another vivid touch in Mark and Luke 8:49. The phrase is in Genesis 29:9. Nowhere does Mark preserve better the lifelike traits of an eyewitness like Peter than in these incidents in chapter 5. The arrival of the messengers from Jairus was opportune for the woman just healed of the issue of blood (εν υσει αιματος — en husei haimatos) for it diverted attention from her. Now the ruler‘s daughter has died (απετανε — apethane).

Why troublest thou the master any further? (Τι ετι σκυλλεις τον διδασκαλον — Timothyeti skulleis ton didaskaloṉ). It was all over, so they felt. Jesus had raised from the dead the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), but people in general did not expect him to raise the dead. The word σκυλλω — skullō from σκυλον — skulon (skin, pelt, spoils), means to skin, to flay, in Aeschylus. Then it comes to mean to vex, annoy, distress as in Matthew 9:36, which see. The middle is common in the papyri for bother, worry, as in Luke 7:6. There was no further use in troubling the Teacher about the girl.

Not heeding (παρακουσας — parakousas). This is the sense in Matthew 18:17 and uniformly so in the lxx. But here the other sense of hearing aside, overhearing what was not spoken directly to him, probably exists also. “Jesus might overhear what was said and disregard its import” (Bruce). Certainly he ignored the conclusion of the messengers. The present participle λαλουμενον — laloumenon suits best the idea of overhearing. Both Mark and Luke 8:50 have “Fear not, only believe” (μη ποβου μονον πιστευε — mē phobou τωι αρχισυναγωγωι — monon pisteue). This to the ruler of the synagogue (tōi archisunagōgōi) who had remained and to whom the messenger had spoken.

Save Peter, and James, and John (ει μη Πετρον και λακωβον και Ιωανην — ei mē Petron kai lakōbon kai Iōanēn). Probably the house was too small for the other disciples to come in with the family. The first instance of this inner circle of three seen again on the Mount of Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The one article in the Greek treats the group as a unit.

Wailing greatly (αλαλαζοντας πολλα — alalazontas polla). An onomatopoetic word from Pindar down. The soldiers on entering battle cried Αλαλα — Alāla Used of clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1). Like ολολυζω — ololuzō in James 5:1. It is used here of the monotonous wail of the hired mourners.

Make a tumult (τορυβειστε — thorubeisthe). Middle voice. Jesus had dismissed one crowd (Mark 5:37), but finds the house occupied by the hired mourners making bedlam (τορυβος — thorubos) as if that showed grief with their ostentatious noise. Matthew 9:23 spoke of flute-players (αυλητας — aulētas) and the hubbub of the excited throng (τορυβουμενον — thoruboumenon Cf. Mark 14:2; Acts 20:1, Acts 21:34).

And they laughed him to scorn (και κατεγελων — kai kategelōn). “They jeered at him” (Weymouth). Note imperfect tense. They kept it up. And note also κατ — kaṫ (perfective use). Exactly the same words in Matthew 9:24 and Luke 8:53. The loud laughter was ill suited to the solemn occasion. But Jesus on his part (αυτος δε — autos de) took charge of the situation.

Taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him (παραλαμβανει τον πατερα του παιδιου και την μητερα και τους μετ αυτου — paralambanei ton patera tou paidiou kai tēn mētera kai tous met' autou). Having put out (εκβαλων — ekbalōn) the rest by a stern assertion of authority as if he were master of the house, Jesus takes along with him these five and enters the chamber of death “where the child was” (οπου ην το παιδιον — hopou ēn to paidion). He had to use pressure to make the hired mourners leave. The presence of some people will ruin the atmosphere for spiritual work.

Talitha cumi. These precious Aramaic words, spoken by Jesus to the child, Peter heard and remembered so that Mark gives them to us. Mark interprets the simple words into Greek for those who did not know Aramaic (το κορασιον εγειρε — to korasion κορασιων — egeire), that is, Damsel, arise. Mark uses the diminutive κορη — korasiōn a little girl, from η παισ εγειρε — korē girl. Braid Scots has it: “Lassie, wauken.” Luke 8:5-9 has it κρατησας της χειρος — Hē pais egeire Maiden, arise. All three Gospels mention the fact that Jesus took her by the hand, a touch of life (kratēsas tēs cheiros), giving confidence and help.

Rose up, and walked (ανεστη και περιεπατει — anestē kai periepatei). Aorist tense (single act) followed by the imperfect (the walking went on).

For she was twelve years old (ην γαρ ετων δωδεκα — ēn gar etōn dōdeka). The age mentioned by Mark alone and here as explanation that she was old enough to walk.

Amazed (εχεστησαν — exestēsan). We have had this word before in Matthew 12:23 and Mark 2:12, which see. Here the word is repeated in the substantive in the associative instrumental case (εκστασει μεγαληι — ekstasei megalēi), with a great ecstasy, especially on the part of the parents (Luke 8:56), and no wonder.

That no one should know this (ινα μηδεις γνοι τουτο — hina mēdeis gnoi touto). Second aorist active subjunctive, γνοι — gnoi But would they keep still about it? There was the girl besides.