Mark 5:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The account of this event is also mirrored by the Evangelist Luke, who describes that upon seeing Jesus, the man cried out, fell before Him, and said with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I plead with you, do not torment me.” (Luke 8:28). Luke adds that Jesus then instructed the unclean spirit to leave the man (Lk. 8:29).

Acknowledging the testimonies of all three Evangelists as absolutely true, we can discern the following progression of events as narrated. When the demon-possessed men first viewed Jesus approaching, they shouted, “What do you care for us, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here before the time to torment us?” One of the men, who had been untamable, rushed towards Jesus, fell at His feet in worship, and Jesus issued the command, “Come out, unclean spirit, from this man.” Subsequently, the possessed man cried out, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, the Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!”

After determining the sequence of events, we must consider whether it is appropriate to attribute all actions and words of the demon-possessed man solely to him as a person acting of his own volition. The man, who had long isolated himself in the desolate coastal regions, living among caves and without human interaction, could not possibly know of Christ’s identity or presence. Yet, upon suddenly seeing Him, he acknowledges Him as Jesus, the Son of God, and reproaches Him for coming to torment him prematurely. He approaches, kneels, bows in worship, and seemingly asks for deliverance from a grave ordeal. However, when Jesus commands the unclean spirit to depart, instead of giving thanks, the man exclaims loudly, “What do you care about me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!”

This conduct exhibits a conflict within him: he runs to Jesus, prostrates himself in worship, which is the typical behavior of one seeking salvation or relief from distress or a formidable adversary; yet he fails to articulate the desires he ought to express. As he begins to speak, his words convey sentiments that starkly contradict his humble reverence for Jesus, indicating they cannot be attributed solely to him. It is evident that the possessed man was not voicing his own thoughts—rather, he unwittingly echoed the will and fears of another presence, an entity that impelled him towards deep suffering and desolation. The acknowledgment of this individual as being truly tormented by unclean spirits is confirmed when Jesus commands the evil spirit to exit him. Those with wavering faith, who question the reality of evil spirits, should carefully reflect on the contradiction between the demon-possessed man’s words and actions, likely admitting that another voice was speaking through him. Who, then, is this voice? What other conclusion can they arrive at, aside from the answer provided by the Gospel?

When Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to leave the man, He inquired, "What is your name?" The possessed man, whose consciousness was clouded, could not respond for himself, so the unclean spirit spoke on his behalf, saying, "Legion," referring to a division of the Roman army made up of about 6,000 soldiers, both infantry and cavalry. The demons begged Jesus not to cast them out of that region or send them to the abyss. Nearby, on a hillside, a large herd of pigs, likely belonging to Gentiles living along the eastern shore of Lake Gennesaret, could be seen. The evil spirits pleaded, “If you drive us out, permit us to enter the herd of swine.” The Lord Jesus consented, saying, "Go," thereby granting the demons’ request—not because He was persuaded by them, as St. John Chrysostom observed, but to demonstrate His divine power to the residents of that area, showcasing the malice of the demons from whom He liberated the afflicted, affirming that they cannot act even against pigs without the permission of the Almighty. As the unclean spirits departed from the man, they entered the pigs, and suddenly the entire herd, numbering around two thousand, rushed down a steep bank into the lake, drowning in the waters.