Mat 8:28-33 | PNT | STEP | Into the country of the Gergesenes . Compare . Gergesa has been identified on the east shore of Galilee; the "steep place" and "tombs" are still seen. It was a village in the district of the Gadarenes. The Lord landed here after the storm. The Revised Version has "Gadarenes" in Matthew, and "Gerasenes" in Mark and Luke ( ). The simple explanation of this difference is that Gadarenes and Gerasenes are different names for the inhabitants of the same large district, so called from Gadara and Gerasa, two cities of that region; while Gergesenes in the name of the people of a smaller district within the other, and named from the city of Gergesa. Two possessed with devils . Mark and Luke mention only one, the fiercer one, who spoke with the Lord ( ). The tombs . The tombs were caves, natural or artificial, cut in the rock of the hill side, and, hence, suitable for a shelter. Fierce . So violent as to be dangerous ( ).

Matthew 8:28-33

Into the country of the Gergesenes. Compare Mr 5:1-21 Lu 8:26-40. Gergesa has been identified on the east shore of Galilee; the "steep place" and "tombs" are still seen. It was a village in the district of the Gadarenes. The Lord landed here after the storm. The Revised Version has "Gadarenes" in Matthew, and "Gerasenes" in Mark and Luke (Mr 5:1 Lu 8:26). The simple explanation of this difference is that Gadarenes and Gerasenes are different names for the inhabitants of the same large district, so called from Gadara and Gerasa, two cities of that region; while Gergesenes in the name of the people of a smaller district within the other, and named from the city of Gergesa.

Two possessed with devils. Mark and Luke mention only one, the fiercer one, who spoke with the Lord (Mr 5:2 Lu 8:27).

The tombs. The tombs were caves, natural or artificial, cut in the rock of the hill side, and, hence, suitable for a shelter.

Fierce. So violent as to be dangerous (Mr 5:3-5 Lu 8:29). They cried out. This account shows: (1) That demoniacal possession was not simply bodily or mental disease. (2) That evil spirits actually took possession of and controlled human beings. (3) That these controlled the actions and organs of speech of their poor victims. (4) We learn elsewhere that sin prepared the way for the entrance of the demon.

Thou Son of God. The demons, like the devil, recognized him.

Torment us before the time. These words show that they expected the final triumph of Christ. An herd of many swine. According to Mark, 2,000 (Mr 5:13). They were an unclean animal, kept probably by Jews in violation of the spirit of the Mosaic law; or, if by Gentiles, kept in violation of God's law for the land of Israel. Suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. Why this request we do not know; perhaps it was malicious; perhaps to have an animal habitation. Go. Permission, not a command.

Ran violently . . . into the sea. Maddened, the swine rushed down the steep declivity into the sea. If we knew all the facts we would see more fully the righteousness of the Lord's permission. Perhaps the loss of the swine was a punishment. Perhaps it was to show that evil works its own destruction.