And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the fields. And they went out to see what was done:
οι δε βοσκοντες τους χοιρους εφυγον και ανηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους και εξηλθον ιδειν τι εστιν το γεγονος
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The terrified shepherds, witnessing the devastation of the entire flock, hurried to the city and the neighboring villages to share the calamity that they believed had occurred. Their flight was likely spurred not only by the fear that overwhelmed them but also by a wish to bring the owners of the swine to the scene of the incident, seeking to clear their names before Jesus and His companions departed. The residents of these areas came to investigate what had transpired.
Astounded by this remarkable occurrence, the shepherds hurried to share the news throughout the towns and villages, prompting people to gather from all directions to witness the extraordinary visitor in their midst. They were confronted with the sight of a once fearsome and uncontrollable man possessed by demons, now transformed in a wonderful way. The miraculous visitor had healed him, and he sat there in serene peace, resembling a child. A compassionate hand had draped a cloak over his once exposed and filthy form, and he was now at the feet of his Savior, exhibiting perfect clarity of mind. Upon witnessing this, the onlookers were filled with fear. Yet their terror stemmed not from witnessing such a profound miracle, but rather from the immense loss they felt as a consequence of it.
In the towns and settlements located on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, within the area known as Gadarene, where the miraculous event took place.
The shepherds, upon witnessing the remarkable event, hurried to share the news with everyone in the town and surrounding villages. This astonishing report prompted many locals to rush to the location to witness the occurrence themselves. When they approached Jesus Christ, they encountered the man possessed by demons, known as Legion, seated at His feet, clothed and restored to his right mind, which caused them great shock. Those who had witnessed the event explained how the man had been afflicted and what had happened to the swine. These accounts filled the onlookers with even greater fear; they were concerned about their own fate and, lamenting their loss, they rejected the presence of the Lord, as noted by Blessed Theophylact.
Consequently, the residents of the Gadarene region and the townspeople implored Him to depart from their vicinity. As St. John Chrysostom observes, when these people, who had been granted His aid, insisted on His departure, he left them without objection, taking with Him those who were deserving of His teachings.
He boarded a boat to return. Then, a man who had been freed from demon possession approached Him, requesting to accompany Him. It remains unclear whether this plea stemmed from gratitude for the healing or from fear of losing the miraculous changes once the Lord was gone. Jesus, however, did not grant his request; instead, He directed him to return home, so he could serve as a witness to others by sharing his story: "Go to your house to your own, and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." He obeyed, beginning to proclaim Christ among his townspeople and relatives, eventually spreading the message throughout the entire region and even into the Ten Towns. The astonishing tales he shared captivated all who heard them, potentially laying the groundwork for their faith in this predominantly pagan area.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 21 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS