The town in view was probably Gergesa. The demonic had formerly been a restless raving maniac, but now he was sitting peacefully. He had been shamelessly naked (Luke 8:27), but now he clothed himself. He had been out of control, but now he controlled his senses and himself. The people’s fear arose partially from anticipating what Jesus might do with the great power that He obviously possessed. read more
Perhaps the people asked Jesus to leave their area because they reasoned that if He dealt so severely with evil He would eventually destroy them too. Rather than turning to Him in worship they turned from Him to the darkness they preferred (cf. John 1:11; John 3:19). Mark recorded that what happened to the pigs disturbed them, suggesting that economic loss played a part in their request. read more
5:15 sensible, (a-17) As Luke 8:35 . read more
The Gadarene Demoniac. Jairus’ Daughter1-20. The Gadarene (Gerasene) demoniac (Matthew 8:28; Luke 8:26). See on Mt; Mk’s account is much the fullest.1. Gadarenes] RV ’Gerasenes.’9. Mk and Lk (not Mt) state that the man called himself ’Legion,’ because he believed himself to be possessed by numerous devils.18-20. Our Lord thought the quiet of home life better for the man than the excitement of going about with Him. He told him to proclaim the miracle, because in this mainly Gentile district... read more
V.(1-20) See Notes on Matthew 8:28-34. read more
(15) And had the legion.—This special form of the antithesis between the man’s past and present state is given by St. Mark only. read more
The Saviour and the Maniac Mark 5:18 Of all the encounters of Jesus with men, surely none is more striking than His meeting with the maniac whose home was among the tombs. Jesus had just left the boat, and stepped upon the shore, when from out one of the caves that served for a burying-place among the limestone hills there rushed towards Him a creature that seemed not so much like a human being as like an evil spirit incarnate. Perhaps the unhappy man had been watching the boat coming across... read more
Chapter 5CHAPTER 5:1-20 (Mark 5:1-20)THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA"And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had... read more
CHAPTER 5:14-20 (Mark 5:14-20)THE MEN OF GADARA"And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with devils sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with devils, and concerning the swine. And they began to beseech Him to depart... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 5:1-20
The deliverance of a demoniac in Gadara 5:1-20 (cf. Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39)Even though Mark had already reported that Jesus had exorcized many demons, this case was extraordinary."Christ, Who had been charged by the Pharisees with being the embodiment and messenger of Satan [Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15], is here face to face with the extreme manifestation of demoniac power and influence. It is once more, then, a Miracle in Parable which is about to take place. The question,... read more