Luke 8:26-39

Luke 8:26-39

[26] And  they arrived  at  the country  which  over against  Galilee.  [27] And  when he  went forth  to  land,  there met  him  out of  the city  a certain  man,  had  devils  long  time,  and  no  clothes,  neither  abode  in  any house,  but  in  the tombs.  [28] When  Jesus,  he cried out,  and  fell down before  him,  and  with a loud  voice  said,  What  to do with  Jesus,  thou Son  of God  most high?  I beseech  torment  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  with chains  and  in fetters;  and  he brake  the bands,  and was driven  of  into  the wilderness.)  [30] And  Jesus  asked  him,  What  name?  And  he said,  Legion:  because  many  devils  were entered  into  him.  [31] And  they besought  him  command  them  to go out  into  the deep.  [32] And  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  what was done,  they fled,  and  and told  it in  the city  and  in  the country.  [35] Then  they went out  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] it told  them  by what means  he that was possessed of the devils  was healed.  [37] Then  the whole  multitude  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  with  him:  but  him  away,  saying,  [39] Return  to  house,  and  shew  how great things  God  hath done  And  he went his way,  and published  throughout  the whole  city  how great things  Jesus  had done  unto him. 

What does Luke 8:26-39 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The raging of this demoniac was even worse than the raging of the waters of Galilee (cf. Psalm 65:7). Demonic power was evident in the Hellenistic world of Luke"s original readers. The fact that this incident happened in predominantly Gentile territory suggests that Luke may have seen in it a preview of the church"s ministry to Gentiles (cf. Acts 26:18). In his account of this incident Luke stressed the saving of the man ( Luke 8:36), the fear of the spectators ( Luke 8:37), and the abyss as the final destiny of the demons ( Luke 8:31). As Jesus had calmed the sea, He now calmed this demon-afflicted man.