Mark 5:2-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 5:1-20

We have here an instance of Christ's dispossessing the strong man armed, and disposing of him as he pleased, to make it appear that he was stronger than he. This he did when he was come to the other side, whither he went through a storm; his business there was to rescue this poor creature out of the hands of Satan, and when he had done that, he returned. Thus he came from heaven to earth, and returned, in a storm, to redeem a remnant of mankind out of the hands of the devil, though but a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 5:1-13

5:1-13 They came to the other side of the lake, to the territory of the Gerasenes. Immediately Jesus had disembarked from the boat, there met him from the tombs a man in the grip of an unclean spirit. This man lived amongst the tombs. No one had ever been able to bind him with a chain, because he had often been bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been wrenched apart by him and the fetters shattered; and no one was strong enough to tame him. Continually, night and day, in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:2

And when he was come out of the ship ,.... As soon as he was landed, immediately there met him out of the tombs, a man with an unclean spirit . The Jews have a notion, that a man by dwelling among the tombs, becomes possessed with an unclean spirit: hence they say of one that seeks to the dead, or a necromancer F15 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 65. 2. Nidda, fol. 17. 1. & Chagiga, fol. 3. 2. , this is he that starves himself, and goes "and lodges in the tombs"; כדי שתשרה עליו ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:3

Who had his dwelling among the tombs ,.... Which is one of the characters of a madman among the Jews; who say it is F17 T. Hieros. Gittin, fol. 48. 3. & Trumot, fol. 40. 2. . "the sign of a madman, that he goeth out in the night, והלן בבית הקברות , "and lodges among the tombs", and rends his garments, and loses what is given to him.' The same they say, in the same place, of an hypochondriac, and melancholy man; and of Kordiacus, which they give out F18 Jarchi &... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:4

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains ,.... Trial had been made several times, to no purpose; his arms had been bound with chains, and his feet with fetters, which was very proper to prevent doing hurt to himself, and injury to others: and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces ; as if they had been twine threads; such was his strength, through the force of madness, and the possession of Satan, and his diabolical influence: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:5

And always night and day, he was in the mountains ,.... And this being in an Heathen country, would have rendered him an unclean person, if he had not been possessed with an unclean spirit; for so runs one of the Jewish canons F19 Misn Oholot, c. 19. sect. 6. : "he that walks in an Heathen land, on mountains and rocks, is unclean.' And in the tombs : which very likely were on the mountains, and cut out of them, it being usual to cut their sepulchres out of rocks: crying, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:6

But when he saw Jesus afar off ,.... For it seems the tombs among which this man dwelt, were at some distance from the sea shore: wherefore when it is said, Mark 5:2 , that this man met Jesus, as soon as he came out of the ship: the meaning that he then came forth to meet him, as he might do upon sight of persons landing afar off; though he might not know then, who Jesus was: but coming nearer, and perceiving who he was, such was the power of Christ over the devils in him, that though sore... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:7

And cried with a loud voice ,.... The man possessed with the devil; or the devil in him, making use of his voice, expressing great fear, dread, and horror, at the appearance of Christ in these parts: and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God ? The devils in the man, own the being of a God, and his supreme government over all, under the title of the Most High. The word here used, answers to the Hebrew word, עליון , "Elion", a name of God known to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 5:8

For he said unto him ,.... Or he had said unto him, as soon as he came up to him, and fell before him; even before he had confessed, and adjured him; and which indeed drew out the confession from him, that he was superior to him, and therefore became his supplicant: come out of the man, thou unclean spirit ; which was said with so much authority and power, that there was no withstanding it: the devil knew he was not a match for him; that he must, at his command, quit his possession, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 5:2

A man with an unclean spirit - There are two mentioned by Matthew, who are termed demoniacs. See on Mark 1:23 ; (note). read more

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