Harmony of The Gospels: Topic 74

The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative
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(74) The Demons Enter the Swine

Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39

      [A]When they arrived on the other side in the country of Gadarenes, also called Gergesenes, which is across the sea from Galilee, He was met by two who were demon-possessed, coming out of the tombs. They were exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

      [B]This happened as soon as Jesus had left the boat and stepped on the shore. One was from the city but lived among the tombs instead of a house. The man wore no clothes and had an unclean spirit. He had been possessed by demons for a long time and no one could bind him, not even with chains. [C]For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he would pull the chains apart and break the shackles to pieces; neither could anyone tame him. [D]Night and day he was always in the mountains and tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. [E]But when he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and worshiped Him.

      [F]So, when he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him. And look, they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” And he pleaded with Him, saying, “I implore you by God, do not torment me.”

      [G](He said this because Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, so he was kept bound with chains and shackles, which he would break. Then he would be driven by the devil into the wilderness.)

      [H]Jesus asked him, “What is you name?” And he said, “My name is Legion -- for we are many.” He said this because many devils had entered into him. [I]And they begged Him not to send them out of the country and command them to go into the deep.

      [J]Now a good ways off there was a large herd of swine, feeding on the side of the mountains. [K]And all the demons begged Him, saying, “If you cast us out, sent us among the swine so that we may enter into them.” And Jesus gave them permission, [L]saying to them: “Go.”

      So the unclean spirits came out of the man, and with Jesus’ permission, they went into the swine. And look, the whole herd, about two thousand, ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished, choking in the water.

      [M]When those who tended the swine saw what had happened, they fled into the city and countryside, telling everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed. And the whole city and those in the country came out to meet Jesus, and to see what had happened!

      When they saw Him and found the man who had the legion, out of whom the demons had left, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind, they were afraid. [N]And when those who had seen it told the people again about the swine and how the demon-possessed man was healed, the whole crowd from the country around Gadarenes began begging Jesus to leave their coasts; for they were seized with great fear. So He got into the boat and returned to the other side.

      [O]Now when Jesus entered the boat, the man out of whom the demons were cast begged to go with Him. But Jesus would not permit it and sent him away, saying, [P]”Return home to your friends, to your own house. Show and tell them about the great things the Lord God has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”

      And he went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city and in Decapolis the great things Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.


(74) The Demons Enter the Swine

Matthew 8:28-34, KJV

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.


(74) The Demons Enter the Swine

Mark 5:1-20, KJV

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 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. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.


(74) The Demons Enter the Swine

Luke 8:26-39, KJV

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 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. 28 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. 29 (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.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32 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. 33 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. 34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 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. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 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. 38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 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.


[A] Mt 8:28, Mk 5:1, Lk 8:26 [B] Mk 5:2-3, Lk 8:27 [C] Mk 5:4 [D] Mk 5:5 [E] Mk 5:6 [F] Mt 8:29, Mk 5:7, Lk 8:28 [G] Mk 5:8, Lk 8:29 [H] Mk 5:9, Lk 8:30 [I] Mk 5:10, Lk 8:31 [J] Mt 8:30, Mk 5:11, Lk 8:32a [K] Mt 8:31, Mk 5:12, Lk 8:32b [L] Mt 8:32, Mk 5:13, Lk 8:33 [M] Mt 8:33-34a, Mk 5:14-15, Lk 8:34-35 [N] Mt 8:34b, Mk 5:16-17, Lk 8:36-37 [O] Mk 5:18-19a, Lk 8:38 [P] Mk 5:19b-20, Lk 8:39


Harmony of The Gospels: The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative

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