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Luke 8

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately.

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

What does Luke 8:30 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:30 contains a brief dialogue between Jesus and a man possessed by demons, occurring during an exorcism. In the narrative, Jesus confronts the demon(s) within the man and asks for a name.

"Legion," the reply, signifies a vast number of entities, as the term "legion" was used in Roman military context to describe a unit of several thousand soldiers.

The deeper meaning here can also be seen as a reflection on the overwhelming power and destructiveness of evil when it invades human life, as well as the acknowledgement of the real existence of spiritual beings opposed to God and humanity.

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Historical Context

This event takes place during Jesus' Galilean ministry in the first century AD, a time when the Roman Empire occupied Israel.

The concept of demonic possession was common in ancient Jewish thought, and exorcisms were a known practice. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus often confronts and casts out demons, showcasing his authority over the spiritual realm.

"Legion" reflects a familiarity with the Roman military, which the Jewish audience would understand as representing a large, organized, and oppressive force.

Theological Insights

Theologically, different traditions interpret this passage in various ways.

Some see it as a literal account of an exorcism, demonstrating Jesus' divine power. Others view it metaphorically, representing the struggle against sin and evil.

The name "Legion" is significant because it reveals the many demons' recognition of Jesus' superiority.

This engagement illustrates a battle between good and evil, where Jesus' sovereignty is affirmed.

In Christian theology, this passage is often cited to emphasize Christ's power over evil and his mission to deliver humanity from its grasp.

Practical Applications

In the context of everyday life, this verse encourages individuals to acknowledge the presence of spiritual warfare and the personal and communal impact of evil.

It underscores the need for spiritual vigilance and the power of Christ to overcome darkness.

Believers are reminded to seek help and deliverance through faith in Jesus when faced with overwhelming challenges, whether they are spiritual, emotional, or physical.

Cross-References

Mark 5:9 - "And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many."
Matthew 8:28-34 - The parallel account of Jesus encountering the demon-possessed men in the region of the Gadarenes.
Ephesians 6:12 - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Language Study

The key term in this verse is "Legion" (Greek: λεγιών, legiōn). In the original language, it is a transliteration from the Roman military terminology, indicating a large number of soldiers, usually around 3,000 to 6,000 men.

The term's use here metaphorically suggests a multitude of demons. The dialogical phrase "What is thy name?" is a traditional means by which an exorcist would gain power over a demon, according to contemporary beliefs.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient mythologies and religions, the concept of evil spirits or demons is recurrent.

For instance, in ancient Babylonian texts, there are references to spirits that could possess and harm humans.

In the case of the Bible, evil spirits are recognized as beings opposed to God.

The practice of exorcism is also seen within other religious traditions, such as Islam and Hinduism, each having their interpretations of demonic possession and methods of expulsion.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific viewpoint, phenomena such as "possession" might be interpreted in terms of psychology or neurological disorders.

In some cases, what might have been labeled as demonic possession in the ancient world could align with conditions like epilepsy, schizophrenia, or dissociative identity disorder.

Nevertheless, scientific perspectives generally do not address the spiritual dimensions of these experiences, as they fall outside the purview of empirical science.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided insightful commentaries on this verse.

For instance:

William Barclay suggests that the man's condition and the response "Legion" symbolize the overwhelming oppression that evil can levy upon an individual.
John MacArthur emphasizes the historical context, noting that the term “legion” would evoke a strong reaction from the Jewish audience because of the Roman military presence in their region.
Joel B.

Green in the "New International Commentary on the New Testament" series focuses on how Luke presents Jesus as the divine authority acting compassionately and powerfully to restore individuals and communities.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 8:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?