Luke 8:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.

NIV: And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

NASB: And they were begging Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

CSB: And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss.

NLT: The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

KJV: And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

NKJV: And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

Jesus is ordering a legion of demons—possibly thousands—to abandon the man they are tormenting (Luke 8:26–30). The demons know they must go, but they want to stay on earth, not be sent to "the abyss." We're not sure what "the abyss" refers to. Most literally, the word translated "abyss" refers an extremely deep hole, chasm, or pit, and is often mentioned in reference to death, evil spirits, and enemy powers.

Scripture seems to suggest that when Satan rebelled against God, one-third of the angels followed him (Revelation 12:3–4). Not all of those fallen angels are still on earth. Peter rather vaguely refers to demons who sinned so badly God "cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment" (2 Peter 2:4). These may be the same terrors who will be released during the tribulation (Revelation 9:1–3, 11; 11:7). Some say these are the angels who mated with human women to create the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1–4).

The Bible doesn't give the details, but the Legion of demons fear some version of judgment. Matthew quotes the demons as asking, "Have you come here to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29). In the end, all demons will be sent to the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41). These demons don't want to go yet.

Luke 8:26–39 records a man's rescue from a legion of demons. This comes just as Jesus has saved the disciples from chaos and nature. The rescued man believes, having seen the light and heard the message (Luke 8:15–18). The townspeople don't listen and are filled with fear. When the once-chained man begs to stay with Jesus, Jesus instead commissions him to spread the good news he has heard and experienced, becoming the apostle to the entire district. Next, Jesus shows His power over sickness and death (Luke 8:40–56) before imbuing that power to His disciples (Luke 9:1–6). Mark also records Jesus' power over Legion while Matthew notes there were two possessed men (Matthew 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–20).

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.