Luke 8:33
Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
With his permission the demons left the afflicted men and entered the nearby herd of swine, and the whole herd rushed violently down the steep slope into the lake and drowned, while the men were freed, healed and restored to their right minds. The drowning brought serious financial loss to the owners, and the people valued that loss above the restoration of the men, feared further loss and begged Jesus to leave their coast, which he did because he never forces his presence where he is unwelcome. The destruction gave visible proof of Satan's destructive power even over animals and displayed Christ's supremacy over him, with his power and mercy in restraining the demons from destroying the keepers and owners as well. Though Satan meant the loss to turn the region against Jesus and hinder the gospel, it instead stirred the country, drew attention to him and opened the way for the gospel, as the freed men remained as witnesses carrying to Decapolis the news of his power to save from Satan's bondage and awakening interest so that later crowds came to hear him. The verse warns of Satan's cruelty and rebukes the raising of unclean swine for profit, showing how worldliness blinded the people so that though they saw before them One who could control the elements, cast out demons and heal the diseased with a word or touch, they refused that blessing and drove him away.
The Herd Destroyed
With his permission the demons came out of the men and entered the nearby herd of swine. Panic at once seized the animals, and the whole herd rushed violently down the steep slope, cliff, bank and precipice into the lake or sea. There they were choked, drowned and perished in destruction.
By that transfer the men were freed from the demons, healed and restored to their right senses. Those who had been tormented stood before the people as men delivered from Satan's power and restored by mercy.
The drowning of the herd brought its owners a serious financial loss. Concern over that loss overshadowed any joy over the men's deliverance.
The people valued their property loss above the healing and restoration of the men. Blinded by worldliness they saw only the magnitude of their loss and feared further and additional loss. So they begged Jesus, the Son of God, to depart from their coast, refusing the advantage set before them. He gratified their wish and left, for he never urges his presence where he is unwelcome.
Christ's Supremacy and Witness
The drowning of the herd gave visible evidence of Satan's destructive power, showing what he will do even to animals when allowed control. It was a meeting of the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness in which all present beheld the supremacy of Christ over Satan. In the same act was seen the power and mercy of Christ, who restrained the demons so that they could not destroy the keepers and owners as well as the swine. The loss to the owners drew public attention to Jesus and to what had been done for the afflicted men.
Satan intended that financial loss to turn the whole region against Jesus and to hinder the preaching of the gospel there. Instead the destruction stirred the countryside, turned attention to Christ, and opened a door for the gospel where it had been closed. The people valued the lost swine more than the men freed from Satan's power, yet the stir could not be suppressed.
The men thus freed did not leave with Jesus but remained as obedient witnesses where they were known. They carried to others the good news of Christ's power to save from Satan's bondage, bearing the light of the gospel to people who had rejected Jesus without understanding what they were rejecting. Their testimony went throughout Decapolis and helped awaken interest in his teaching and salvation. As a result, later crowds came to hear the message of salvation that at first had been refused.
The event stands as a warning of Satan's cruelty and as a rebuke to the raising of unclean swine for profit. Worldliness blinded the owners and their neighbors so that they saw only the magnitude of their loss and feared further loss. Those who had crossed the lake told them of the peril of the previous night and the stilling of the tempest, and before them stood One who by the lifting of a finger could control the elements, cast out demons, and by a word or the touch of a hand heal the diseased and imbecile. Though they saw His power and mercy in the restoration of the tormented men, they refused to consider that advantage and drove Him away.