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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_5:14-20
14Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. 15They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the "legion"; and they became frightened. 16Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. 17And they began to implore Him to leave their region. 18As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." 20And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Mar_5:14 "And the people came to see what it was that had happened" Curiosity and fear motivates the town's people to come, even at night.
Mar_5:15 "sitting down" This is the first in a series of conditions which describe this man's new peace and composure.
▣ "clothed" This implies he was normally unclothed (cf. Luk_8:27).
▣ "in his right mind" Demonic possession manifests itself in many ways
1. cannot speak (Mar_9:17; Mar_9:25; Mat_9:32)
2. cannot speak or see (Mat_12:22)
3. epilepsy (Mat_17:15; Mat_17:18)
4. great strength (Mar_5:3-4)
5. convulsions (Mar_1:26; Mar_9:20)
6. paralysis (Act_8:17)
However, not all physical problems are of demonic origin. In the Gospels illness and possession are often differentiated (cf. Mar_1:32; Mar_1:34; Mar_6:13; Mat_4:24; Mat_10:8; Luk_4:40-41; Luk_9:1; Luk_13:32).
Mar_5:17 "they began to implore Him to leave their region" This is an aorist middle indicative and a present active infinitive. This rejection was one possible reason the demons wanted to enter the hogs! The townspeople wanted the One who calmed the man that none of them could calm to leave. How different is the village of John 4. Apparently economic concerns outweighed this man's restoration.
Mar_5:19 "Go home to your people" This is a present active imperative. Jesus was telling him to go back home. Jesus knew the presence of an apparently Gentile follower would alienate some Jewish people. By staying Jesus now had a witness in this Gentile area. He still cared for these materialists!
▣ "and report to them" This is an aorist active imperative. Share with your people what God has done for you. Apparently he did this well (cf. Mar_5:20). This shows Jesus' care for Gentiles.
Mar_5:20 "Decapolis" This Greek word means "ten cities." It was a confederacy going back to Alexander the Great. This region was north of Perea and east of the Sea of Galilee. It was a haven of Hellenistic culture.