Luk 8:37 | NETfull | STEP | Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left.

Luke 8:37

37 Then ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} all the people of the Gerasenes ^{▼▼ See the [V] note on “Gerasenes” in v. 26 for the same geographical options for the textual variants.} and the surrounding region ^{▼▼ Grk “all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes,” but according to L&N 1.80, “περίχωρος may include not only the surrounding region but also the point of reference, for example…‘the Gerasenes and the people living around them’ Lk 8:37.”} asked Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} to leave them alone, ^{▼▼ Or “to depart from them.”} for they were seized with great fear. ^{▼▼ Again there is great fear at God’s activity, but there is a different reaction. Some people want nothing to do with God’s presence. Mark 5:16 hints that economic reasons motivated their request.} So ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ departure was the result of the Gerasenes’ response. A new sentence was started in the translation at this point for stylistic reasons.} he got into the boat and left. ^{▼▼ Grk “returned,” but the effect is that he departed from the Gerasene region.}