Mark 5

The Demons and the Pigs

1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. ▼

▼BYZ and TR Gadarenes

2 As soon as [Jesus] got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, [who was] coming from the tombs. 3 [This man] had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, [even] with chains. 4 [Though] he {was} often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now [there was] no one with the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When [the man] saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him. 7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You [want] with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” 8 For [Jesus] had already declared, “Come out of [this] man, {you} unclean spirit!” 9 “What [is] your name?” [Jesus] asked. “My name [is] Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged [Jesus] repeatedly not to send them out of [that] region. 11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. 12 [So] [the demons] begged [Jesus] , “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out [and] went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the [water] . 14 Those tending [the pigs] ran off and reported [this] in the town and countryside, and [the people] went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the [man] who had been possessed by the legion {of demons} sitting [there] , clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen [it] described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and [also to] the pigs. 17 And [the people] began to beg [Jesus] to leave their region. 18 As He was getting into the boat, the [man] who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 19 But [Jesus] would not allow him. “Go home to your own [people] ,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” 20 [So] [the man] went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis ▼

▼That is, the Ten Cities

how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The Healing Touch of Jesus

21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea. 22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing [Jesus] , he fell at His feet 23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. [Please] come [and] place [Your] hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So [Jesus] went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. 25 And a woman [was there] who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had borne much {agony} under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, [her condition] had only grown worse. 27 When [the woman] heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind [Him] [and] touched His cloak. 28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in [her] body that she was healed of [her] affliction. 30 At once Jesus was aware [that] power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My clothes?” 31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” said [Jesus] , “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.” 35 While He was still speaking, [ messengers ] from [the house of Jairus] arrived [and] said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?” 36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to [Jairus] , “ {Do} not be afraid; just believe.” 37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of [Jairus] , [Jesus] saw [the] commotion and [the people] weeping and wailing loudly. 39 He went inside [and] asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.” 40 And they laughed at Him. [After] He had sent them all out, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in [to see] the child. 41 Taking [her] by the hand, [Jesus] said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded. 43 Then [Jesus] gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told [them] to give her [something] to eat.