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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 8:35 mean?

Explanation

Luke 8:35 refers to the aftermath of the healing of a man possessed by demons by Jesus Christ.

In the preceding verses, Jesus had traveled to the region of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee, where he encountered a man possessed by a legion of demons.

Jesus commanded the impure spirits to leave the man, allowing them to enter a herd of pigs, which then rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

The verse in question illustrates the townspeople's reaction to this miraculous event.

It underscores the transformation that took place in the man formerly tormented by demons, how he went from being out of control to sitting calmly at Jesus' feet, fully clothed and in his right mind.

The response of the townspeople was fear, perhaps because of the supernatural nature of the healing, the economic loss of the pigs, or the tangible presence of God's power through Jesus.

This fear led them to request that Jesus leave their region.

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Historical Context

Luke 8:35 is part of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament.

The Gospel was written by Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul, around AD 60-80.

The Gerasenes region, referred to in this narrative, was a predominantly Gentile area on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

Pigs were unclean animals according to Jewish law, but they were part of the Gentile economy and diet.

The presence of pigs in the story highlights that Jesus' ministry extended beyond the Jewish communities to the Gentile world.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse demonstrates Jesus' authority over evil.

It also illustrates the concept of total transformation through Jesus' power.

The man's state before and after the encounter with Jesus serves as a metaphor for the transformative power of salvation and deliverance from sin.

The fear exhibited by the townspeople can also be interpreted as a response to the divine, where encountering God's power elicits a reaction of awe and sometimes rejection when it challenges the status quo or brings about unforeseen change.

Practical Applications

The story's practical implications suggest that real change can inspire fear or rejection from society.

When individuals experience profound inner transformation, they may face misunderstanding or isolation.

For modern believers, the passage encourages embracing those who have experienced such changes, rather than reacting with fear.

It is also a reminder of the potential for Jesus' redemptive power to restore individuals to a sound mind and to community acceptance.

Cross-References

Mark 5:15 - "And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid."
Luke 8:27 - "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."
Acts 19:15-16 - "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words include:

"δαιμόνων" (daimonon), often translated as "devils" or "demons," referring to the evil spirits.
"καθήμενον" (kathēmenon), meaning "sitting," conveys a sense of composure and normalcy.
"σωφρονοῦντα" (sōphronounta), translated as "in his right mind," indicates soundness of mind or self-control, contrasting with his previous condition.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The healing of a demon-possessed man resonates with various ancient myths and religious rituals aimed at exorcism or the restoration of one's sanity.

In many traditions, both ancient and contemporary, the act of driving out spirits is a demonstration of spiritual power and authority.

The Christian narrative stands out for the inclusion of the compassionate restoration of the individual to the community.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science tends to take a skeptical view of accounts of demonic possession, often seeking to explain such behavior through the lens of mental illness, neurological disorders, or psychological disturbances.

The idea of a man being healed instantaneously of such conditions would be considered unscientific, as medical practice relies on treatment and long-term care.

Nonetheless, some studies in the field of psychology explore the positive impact of spirituality and faith on mental health.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Luke 8:35:

Some emphasize Jesus' compassion in confronting and healing those marginalized by mental or spiritual afflictions.
Others point to the social dimensions of the miracle, such as the restoration of the individual to the community, and the economic implications of the loss of the pigs.
Certain commentaries focus on the fear of the townspeople as a natural human reaction to encountering the supernatural or divine.
Some modern commentators question the literal interpretation of the event, while still recognizing the narrative's power as a teaching about freedom from bondage, whether spiritual or psychological.

Luke 8

Luke 8

What does Luke 8:35 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 8:35 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?