The Gerasene Demoniac

Free Bible Version (FBV)

Mat 8:28–34

28 When he arrived on the other side, in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men came out of the graveyard to meet him. They were so dangerous that nobody dared to travel that way.
29 They shouted out, “What have you got to do with us, you Son of God? Have you come to torture us before our time?”
30 In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.
31 The demons pleaded with him, “If you're going to drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 “Go!” said Jesus. The demons left the men and went into the pigs. The whole herd ran down the steep hillside into the sea and drowned.
33 The pig herders ran away. They went to the town and told the people there everything that had taken place, and what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 The whole town came out to meet Jesus. When they found him, they begged him to leave their district.

Mrk 5:1–20

1 They arrived on the other side of the lake in the region of the Gerasenes.
2 When Jesus got out of the boat a man with an evil spirit came from the graveyard to meet him.
3 This man lived among the tombs, and it had been impossible to tie him up any more, even with a chain.
4 He had often been tied up with chains and shackles, but he simply tore the chains apart and broke the shackles into pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
5 Day and night he was always shouting out among the tombs and in the hills nearby, cutting himself with sharp stones.
6 Seeing Jesus from a distance he ran and kneeled in front of him.
7 In a loud voice he cried out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of Almighty God? Swear by God that you won't torture me!”
8 For Jesus had already told the evil spirit to leave the man.
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion, because we are many!” he replied.
10 He also repeatedly pleaded with Jesus not to send them a long way away.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby.
12 The evil spirits pleaded with him, “Send us into the pigs so we can enter them.”
13 Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep cliff into the sea and drowned.
14 The pig-keepers ran away, and spread the news all over town and in the countryside. People came out to see what had happened.
15 When they found Jesus they saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting there, dressed, and in his right mind—the one who had the legion of evil spirits—and they became frightened!
16 Then those who had seen what had happened to the man who had been demon-possessed and the pigs told the others.
17 They began pleading with Jesus to leave their district.
18 As Jesus climbed into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
19 But Jesus refused, telling him, “Go home to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has been merciful to you.”
20 So the man went on his way and began to tell the people of the Ten Cities everything Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.

Luk 8:26–39

26 They sailed across to the Gerasene region that lies opposite Galilee.
27 When Jesus stepped out of the boat onto the shore, a demon-possessed man from the town came to meet him. For a long time he hadn't worn any clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell down at Jesus' feet, and asked in a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please don't torture me, I beg you!”
29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to leave the man. It had often seized him, and despite being tied down with chains and shackles, and placed under guard, he would break the chains apart and would be driven by the demon into the desert areas.
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked him. “Legion,” he replied, for many demons had entered him.
31 They begged Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 There was a large herd of pigs feeding on the nearby hillside, and the demons begged him to be allowed to go into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission,
33 so the demons left the man and entered the pigs. The herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned.
34 When the pig-keepers saw what had happened they ran off and spread the news through the town and the countryside.
35 The people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus they found the man freed from the demons. He was sitting there at Jesus' feet, wearing clothes and in his right mind; and they became scared.
36 Those who had seen what happened explained how the demon-possessed man had been healed.
37 Then all the people from the Gerasene region asked Jesus to leave because they were overwhelmed by fear. So he got into the boat and went back.
38 The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away.
39 “Go back home, and tell people all that God has done for you,” Jesus told him. So he went away, telling the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.