Mar 5:1-20 | Barnes | STEP | Verses 1-20. See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in Barnes Notes on . (q) "And they came"

Mark 5:1-20

Verses 1-20. See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in Barnes Notes on Mt 8:28-34.

(q) "And they came" Mt 8:28, Lk 8:26 Verse 3.

(r) "his dwelling" Isa 65:4 Verse 6. Worshipped him. Bowed down before him; rendered him homage. This was an acknowledgment of his power, and of his control over fallen spirits.

(s) "worshipped" Ps 72:9 Verse 8.

(t) "Come out of him" Acts 16:18, Heb 2:14, 1Jn 3:8 Verse 9. My name is Legion. Mt 8:29. Verse 11.

(x) "swine feeding" Lev 11:7,8, De 14:8 Verse 12.

(y) "besought him" Job 1:10,12, 2:5,6 Verse 13.

(z) "gave them leave" Rev 13:7, 1Pet 3:22 Verse 15. Sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind. There could be no doubt of the reality of this miracle. The man had been well known. He had long dwelt among the tombs, an object of terror and alarm. To see him all at once peaceful, and calm, and rational, was proof that it was the power of God only that had done it.

They were afraid. They were awed, as in the presence of God. The word does not mean here that they feared that any evil would happen to them, but that they were affected with awe; they felt that God was there; they were struck with astonishment at what Jesus had done.

(a) "devil, and had" Isa 49:25, Col 1:13 (b) "they were afraid" Job 13:11, Psa 14:5, 2Ti 1:7 Verse 17.

(c) "depart" Job 21:14, Lk 5:8, Acts 16:39 Verse 19. Jesus suffered him not. Various reasons have been conjectured why Jesus did not suffer this malt to go with him. It might be, that he wished to leave him among the people, as a conclusive evidence of his power to work miracles. It might be that the man feared that if Jesus left him the devils would return, and that Jesus told him to remain to show to him that the cure was complete and that he had power over the devils when absent, as well as when present. But the probable reason is, that he desired to restore him to his family and friends. He was probably a man of influence, and Jesus was unwilling to delay the joy of his friends, and prolong their anxiety, by suffering him to remain away from them.

(d) "and tell them" Ps 66:16, Isa 38:19 Verse 20. In Decapolis. Mt 4:25.

How great things, etc. This was the natural expression of right feeling at being cured of such a calamity. So the desire of sinners freed from sin is to honour Jesus; to ascribe all to his power; and to invite the world to participate in the same salvation, and to join them in doing honour to the Son of God. Compare Ps 66:16.