Luke 8:26-39
Summary for Luke 8:26-39: 8:26-39 a This exorcism story demonstrated Jesus’ authority over spiritual forces. It also contrasted the faith and devotion of the freed man with the fear and rejection of the townspeople. 8:26 b the region of the Gerasenes: Gerasa was a city of the Decapolis, thirty miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus deliberately went to a predominantly Gentile region and ministered there.8:27 c living in the tombs outside the town: Touching a tomb or a dead body rendered a Jew unclean, or ceremonially defiled. Jesus willingly entered this unclean place to rescue a person enslaved by Satan.
8:28 d Jesus, Son of the Most High God: See study notes on 4:34, 41.
8:29 e evil (literally unclean) spirit: Unclean things are unfit for God’s presence (see also study note on 4:33).
8:30 f A Roman legion had about 6,000 soldiers, so this man had a great many demons.
8:31 g the bottomless pit: The Greek word abussos means “bottomless” and often refers to the underworld prison of evil spirits or fallen angels (Rev 9:1-2 h, 11 i; 11:7 j; 17:8 k; 20:1 l, 3 m; cp. 2 Pet 2:4 n). The metaphor is taken from the apparently bottomless depth of the ocean (the ancients had no means for sounding the ocean depths, so to them it was bottomless).
8:32 o a large herd of pigs: Pigs were unclean animals for Jews, which shows that the people of this region were Gentiles. The unclean demons were fit only for pigs.
8:35 p sitting at Jesus’ feet: The man sat in the position of a disciple, indicating his willingness to follow Jesus (see 8:37 q).
8:37 r begged Jesus to go away: Jesus’ power over spiritual forces frightened the townspeople, and their loss of property (the pigs) angered them. Their rejection contrasts with the faith of the healed man.
8:39 s go back to your family: The role of disciples is to proclaim to the world what Jesus has done for them.
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