Luke 8:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Those whom they possess, they transform into examples of deep despair, stripping them of all goodness, clarity, and ultimately, even their very minds. Some may ask why they inhabit humans. To those seeking understanding, I offer that the answer is profound; as one of His saints has prayed, ‘Thy judgments are the abyss.’ Keeping this in mind helps to steer us on the right path. The Sovereign Lord permits some individuals to fall under their influence, not merely for the sake of their suffering, but rather so that we can learn from their suffering how demons act upon us, thus steering us away from the inclination to submit to their power. Through the trials endured by one, many are uplifted.

Despite their numerical disparity, both accounts convey a deeper unity: the demon-possessed man serves as a representation of the pagan peoples, embodying vices and existing in a state of spiritual nakedness, susceptible to sin. The two afflicted men together symbolize these nations; although Noah had three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—only Shem's lineage was chosen by God. From Ham and Japheth descended many diverse nations. Ham was cursed for failing to cover his father’s shame, while Shem, despite needing to avert his eyes, honorably covered Noah and thus avoided the curse that befall Ham's descendants.

The possessed man, tormented for a long time (Luke 8:27), suffered greatly until the arrival of the Lord, breaking the constraints of his humanity in his madness. St. Matthew wisely notes that the two men resided among tombs, as the souls of such individuals can be likened to those dwelling among coffins and graves. The physical bodies of unbelievers resemble graves, devoid of the word of God. Consequently, the demon-possessed man roamed desolate places—the very antithesis of virtuous fruitfulness—an outcast from the law, severed from the prophets, and far removed from divine grace.

They are often more wretched than those overtly possessed by demons, though they may escape notice. Those possessed by demons inflict pain upon their bodies and at times harm those who encounter them, while those who mimic the evil one through their sinful passions and actions jeopardize their own souls and the souls of those they encounter carelessly. At the time of death, unrepentant sinners bear an immortal and incurable wound, alongside the anguished remnants of their bodies. Society often shows compassion for the visibly demon-afflicted, while having little sympathy for the murderer, the greedy, the prideful, the shameless, and the disobedient—such individuals deserve not pity, but disgust. This is because the demon-possessed suffer through no fault of their own, whereas those who indulge in sin bring calamity upon themselves, frequently tormented by their own inner corruption and malevolence. Although many do not perceive how the devil opposes us through assaults on the soul and supports sinful behavior, God has allowed some to be visibly afflicted by demons to serve as a stark reminder of the terrible state that evil actions can inflict upon the soul, making one completely possessed within. However, in His mercy, He descended (Ps. 17:10) to rescue us from the devil's tyranny over our souls, expelling demons from those overtly afflicted, demonstrating both a visible and spiritual deliverance. Even when He offered healing to a paralyzed man, the witnesses, instead of glorifying Him, chose to blaspheme (Mk. 2:1-7). Thus, He also healed the physical ailment, so that as He stated, “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mk. 2:10). This demonstrates Christ’s power to expel demons from those who are possessed, assuring us that He also removes them from our souls and grants us everlasting freedom (Jn. 8:36). For “when He went ashore,” according to the Gospel account now read, “there met Him a man from the city who had been possessed by demons for a long time; he wore no clothes and did not live in a house, but among the tombs.” His crossing demonstrates that he arrived after Jesus had calmed the storm and the sea during the journey from Galilee, as He had instructed His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side” (Luke 8:22). This illustrates that, in both His foreknowledge and great mercy, He came to aid a man suffering under demonic oppression for a prolonged period. Luke mentions one possessed by many demons, while Mark refers to one who had a single unclean spirit (Mk. 5:2), and Matthew speaks of two individuals sharing in their possession of many demons (Mt. 8:28). The differing accounts of the Evangelists concerning the number of afflicted individuals are reflected in Luke’s and Mark’s writings. The one noted by Mark describes his possession, stating, “Legion is my name, for we are many” (Mk. 5:9). A legion refers to a considerable number of angels, people, or demons acting together with a single purpose. Thus, those inhabited by demons, driven by such a multitude, lived near one another in tombs and mountains, referred to both in the singular and plural, tormented as they were by evil spirits.

Where Matthew briefly conveys that the demon-possessed men were fierce and dangerous, Mark provides a more comprehensive depiction of the demonized individual, detailing how no chains could restrain him, his incessant screaming day and night, and his self-inflicted wounds upon the stones. Luke further notes that this afflicted man was unclothed and tormented by demons in the wilderness; after his healing, the people who had been alerted by the shepherds witnessed the former demoniac sitting peacefully at the feet of Jesus and dressed appropriately. Both Mark and Luke emphasize that the man was inhabited by a legion of demons. Additionally, Mark mentions that about 2,000 pigs perished as a result of the exorcism.

Time and again, attempts to restrain him with shackles and chains failed, leading people to abandon any further efforts. He resided in the caves of the mountains, aptly named tombs, as they served as burial places for the dead. In his torment, he cried out day and night, striking the rocks in his anguish, and his terrifying screams instilled such fear in the local population that no one dared to travel the paths where he might appear.

At Um Qays, the site of ancient Gadara, one may still observe numerous caves that now serve as homes for modern inhabitants. Some of these caves are so spacious that they can house as many as forty people. The dismal and savage setting of these shelters, filled with fears and phantoms, did not offer any comfort to the afflicted, particularly for one individual who was completely overwhelmed. Efforts were made to restrain him, yet in his rage, he displayed superhuman strength and consistently broke his chains and bonds. He was left utterly alone, roaming the desolate and wild ravines, his frantic cries echoing day and night, posing a danger to himself and others as he struck the stones. The other man, while also afflicted, appeared to be less overwhelmingly controlled by the evil, though the darkness still prevailed over his spirit. They boldly approached Jesus Christ, sensing in Him their Redeemer, and fell before Him in worship. Then, with a loud and terrified plea, the unclean spirits spoke through them, begging the Savior not to torment them before the appointed time.