What does Matthew 8:33 mean?

Herdsmen responsible for the care and feeding of 2,000 pigs (Mark 5:13) have just witnessed the animals lose their minds and rush into the sea to drown themselves. They are also aware that the two demon-possessed men who lived in the tombs outside of town have been freed from their demons by a stranger. They may have understood that the stranger sent the demons from the men into the pigs (Matthew 8:28–32).

The herdsmen do exactly what one would expect an employee to do when a disaster strikes a business: they rush into town to tell what they have seen. Part of this would include explaining to the pig's owners what has happened to their profits, as well as telling about the strange man who seemed to have caused it all. Whether or not Jesus' reputation was established in this region, or not, His role in this incident would certainly have caused a stir.