Jesus casts demons into a herd of pigs

28. When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake in the land of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so dangerous that no one could go through that area. 29. They began screaming at him, "Why are you bothering us, Son of God? You have no right to torture us before God's appointed time!" 30. A large herd of pigs was feeding in the distance, 31. so the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs." 32. "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. 33. The herdsmen fled to the nearby city, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men.

1. So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. 2. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. 3. This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain. 4. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him. 5. All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones. 6. When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before him. 7. He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God's sake, don't torture me!" 8. For Jesus had already said to the spirit, "Come out of the man, you evil spirit." 9. Then Jesus asked, "What is your name?" And the spirit replied, "Legion, because there are many of us here inside this man." 10. Then the spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place. 11. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12. "Send us into those pigs," the evil spirits begged. 13. Jesus gave them permission. So the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of two thousand pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. 14. The herdsmen fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves. 15. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, but they were frightened when they saw the man who had been demon possessed, for he was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane. 16. Those who had seen what happened to the man and to the pigs told everyone about it, 17. and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. 18. When Jesus got back into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too. 19. But Jesus said, "No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." 20. So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

26. So they arrived in the land of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. 27. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. Homeless and naked, he had lived in a cemetery for a long time. 28. As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!" 29. For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power. 30. "What is your name?" Jesus asked. "Legion," he replied--for the man was filled with many demons. 31. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless Pit. 32. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons pleaded with him to let them enter into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission. 33. So the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. 34. When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. 35. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, for they wanted to see for themselves what had happened. And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane. And the whole crowd was afraid. 36. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37. And all the people in that region begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. 38. The man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, 39. "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him.