What does Luke 8:32 mean?
Jesus has ordered a legion of demons out of a much-abused man. The demons are negotiating their exit. They think Jesus is going to confine them to a deep spiritual pit, perhaps the prison of other demons whose sin condemned them to an early judgment (Luke 8:26–31; 2 Peter 2:4). Instead, the demons offer to transition to a herd of pigs. This was a group of about two thousand, according to Mark (Mark 5:13).Many Bible-readers are confused at the thought of so many pigs being raised so close to Jews who see the animals as unclean. It's important to remember that this event takes place on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Although Jews live here, it is primarily Gentile territory. Gentiles are not restricted from raising pigs.
Other readers are distressed at what happens to the pigs. After Jesus allows the demons to take over the pigs, the pigs run to the water and drown. The alternative may have been to let the demons go free and harass the people in the nearby cities. We don't know why Jesus doesn't send them to the abyss. We know He gives the demons permission, but doesn't explicitly order or condone the pigs' drowning deaths.
