A Demon-possessed Man

Optional Titles:Jesus is stronger than evil spirits.Jesus casts out a demon from a man.A [formerly] demonized man tells others about Jesus’ power.

Jesus and some [12] of his disciples entered a boat and went across Lake Galilee. They came to a region called Gadarene.

A violent [dangerous] man lived among the burial caves [graves] in that region. He had evil spirits in him.

He wore no clothes. He would scream loudly in daytime and during nighttime. He would sometimes cut himself with sharp stones.

Everyone was afraid of the man. Men used to bind him with ropes or chains, but he became more violent.

He was able to break those bonds [ropes and chains]. Later, no one was able to stop him or to bind him.

When Jesus and his disciples [arrived and] climbed out of their boat, the man saw Jesus and came running to him.

The man knelt down before Jesus. A demon in the man screamed, “Jesus! You are the Most High God’s Son! What are you going to do to me?”

Jesus ordered the demon, “Come out of this man!” Jesus then ordered the demon, “Tell me your name!”

The demon replied, “My name is Legion [Many]. There are many spirits in this man!”

Then the spirits shouted, “Have you come to punish us? This is not yet the time for us to go to Hell!”

The spirits begged Jesus, “Do not send us away from this region!”

That day, a large herd of pigs was feeding on a nearby hillside.

The spirits begged Jesus, “If we must leave this man, then allow us to enter into those pigs!”

Jesus ordered the spirits, “Go now!” Immediately, the spirits went out from the man and entered into the pigs.

Suddenly, the pigs ran down the hillside, ran into the lake water, and drowned [died]. The men who had been tending [guarding] the pigs ran to a nearby town and told everyone what had happened.

People came out of the town to where Jesus was. There they saw the man. He was clothed, was seated with Jesus, and was completely sane [well and calm].

When the people saw what had happened to the pigs, they begged Jesus, “Leave this region now!”

So, Jesus and his disciples went back to their boat. But before they left, the man begged Jesus, “Please! May I go with you?”

Jesus replied, “No! Return [Go] to your town and tell everyone what the Lord has done for you today!”

The man obeyed Jesus. He went to many towns in that region, telling everyone what Jesus had done for him. Everyone who saw the man was amazed [surprised].