And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
Those who had watched what happened told others how the demon-possessed men had been set free and what had befallen the herd of swine. The men were wholly restored from Satan's bondage to clear minds, calm bearing, and praise to God. Their report stirred the whole country and brought Jesus into public notice, yet the people prized the loss of property above the healing and begged Him to depart for fear of further loss. The drowning of the swine exposed Satan's destructive work while showing that even demonic power is held under Christ's restraining control. Though He withdrew, He left the healed men in Decapolis to tell what God had done for them, and through them a door was opened for the gospel where He Himself had been rejected.
Setting and Eyewitness Report
The account belongs to Jesus' visit to the eastern shore of Gennesaret, a comparatively desolate region with a largely non-Jewish population, where He had gone seeking rest and seclusion but people followed Him in boats. The landing was near Gadara, a prosperous, partly heathen city set above the lake, where roadside caves and tombs sheltered two dangerously violent men who came out to meet Him. It is placed at the return from healing the demoniacs at Gadara, before going to Jairus's home.
Those who saw it, including the swineherds who hurried off, told their employers and the people what had taken place. They reported both sides of the event together, how the two demon-possessed men had been delivered and what had happened to the herd of swine. The swineherds who had witnessed the healing and the drowning carried news of the men's restoration and of the loss of property to their employers and to the people generally. The destruction of the swine thus turned attention to Jesus even as the healed men remained in the region as witnesses to His power.
The deliverance they reported was a freeing from Satan's bondage that restored the men to reason. Their minds became clear, their appearance grew mild, their hands were quiet, and they praised God. What witnesses described was therefore a complete and sudden restoration, with the men freed from evil spirits and giving thanks.
Rejection and Sovereign Power
The report of what befell the delivered men and what befell the swine roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, turned attention to Jesus, and brought Him before public notice. The loss of the animals is what drew the people to come and see, and fixed their minds on what had happened.
Those who came valued the loss of the animals and property above the restoration of the men, fearing further financial harm if Jesus remained. They blamed Him for the loss with hostility and begged Him to leave the region. It was the demons who drove the herd headlong into the sea, yet Christ's power restrained them so that they could not destroy the keepers and owners as well. Even the power of demons is under the Saviour's control.
The destruction of the swine rebuked the raising of unclean animals for gain. It at once revealed Satan's destructive power and Christ's power to restrain it and to deliver people from it. Satan meant the destruction to turn the people away from the Saviour and to stop the preaching of the gospel in that region, but the telling of it overruled evil for good. The witnesses had clear evidence of Jesus' power and mercy in the restored men before them, yet concern for worldly property led them to reject His presence and refuse His teachings.
Healed Men as Witnesses
When He was asked to leave, Jesus Himself departed, yet He sent the restored men home to tell what God had done for them, and they remained in the region to declare and testify to His mercy. They obeyed by carrying the good news of Christ's power to save to others, even to people who had rejected Him. They told their households and neighbors, and throughout Decapolis they described His power to save and to free them from demons.
They were the first missionaries sent by Christ to Decapolis, and though they had heard little of His teaching, they could testify to what they had seen and heard and experienced of His power. Their changed lives made them witnesses to the gospel's power to transform people and to send them to share God's mercy. Those who had been mediums of the prince of darkness became channels of light and messengers of the Son of God. Men marveled as they heard the wondrous news, a door was opened to the gospel throughout that region, and when Jesus returned to Decapolis thousands from many places flocked about Him and for three days heard the message of salvation.
Those who had watched what happened told others how the demon-possessed men had been set free and what had befallen the herd of swine. The men were wholly restored from Satan's bondage to clear minds, calm bearing, and praise to God. Their report stirred the whole country and brought Jesus into public notice, yet the people prized the loss of property above the healing and begged Him to depart for fear of further loss. The drowning of the swine exposed Satan's destructive work while showing that even demonic power is held under Christ's restraining control. Though He withdrew, He left the healed men in Decapolis to tell what God had done for them, and through them a door was opened for the gospel where He Himself had been rejected.
Setting and Eyewitness Report
The account belongs to Jesus' visit to the eastern shore of Gennesaret, a comparatively desolate region with a largely non-Jewish population, where He had gone seeking rest and seclusion but people followed Him in boats. The landing was near Gadara, a prosperous, partly heathen city set above the lake, where roadside caves and tombs sheltered two dangerously violent men who came out to meet Him. It is placed at the return from healing the demoniacs at Gadara, before going to Jairus's home.
Those who saw it, including the swineherds who hurried off, told their employers and the people what had taken place. They reported both sides of the event together, how the two demon-possessed men had been delivered and what had happened to the herd of swine. The swineherds who had witnessed the healing and the drowning carried news of the men's restoration and of the loss of property to their employers and to the people generally. The destruction of the swine thus turned attention to Jesus even as the healed men remained in the region as witnesses to His power.
The deliverance they reported was a freeing from Satan's bondage that restored the men to reason. Their minds became clear, their appearance grew mild, their hands were quiet, and they praised God. What witnesses described was therefore a complete and sudden restoration, with the men freed from evil spirits and giving thanks.
Rejection and Sovereign Power
The report of what befell the delivered men and what befell the swine roused the whole country as nothing else could have done, turned attention to Jesus, and brought Him before public notice. The loss of the animals is what drew the people to come and see, and fixed their minds on what had happened.
Those who came valued the loss of the animals and property above the restoration of the men, fearing further financial harm if Jesus remained. They blamed Him for the loss with hostility and begged Him to leave the region. It was the demons who drove the herd headlong into the sea, yet Christ's power restrained them so that they could not destroy the keepers and owners as well. Even the power of demons is under the Saviour's control.
The destruction of the swine rebuked the raising of unclean animals for gain. It at once revealed Satan's destructive power and Christ's power to restrain it and to deliver people from it. Satan meant the destruction to turn the people away from the Saviour and to stop the preaching of the gospel in that region, but the telling of it overruled evil for good. The witnesses had clear evidence of Jesus' power and mercy in the restored men before them, yet concern for worldly property led them to reject His presence and refuse His teachings.
Healed Men as Witnesses
When He was asked to leave, Jesus Himself departed, yet He sent the restored men home to tell what God had done for them, and they remained in the region to declare and testify to His mercy. They obeyed by carrying the good news of Christ's power to save to others, even to people who had rejected Him. They told their households and neighbors, and throughout Decapolis they described His power to save and to free them from demons.
They were the first missionaries sent by Christ to Decapolis, and though they had heard little of His teaching, they could testify to what they had seen and heard and experienced of His power. Their changed lives made them witnesses to the gospel's power to transform people and to send them to share God's mercy. Those who had been mediums of the prince of darkness became channels of light and messengers of the Son of God. Men marveled as they heard the wondrous news, a door was opened to the gospel throughout that region, and when Jesus returned to Decapolis thousands from many places flocked about Him and for three days heard the message of salvation.