Mark 5:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened.

NIV: Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

NASB: Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.

CSB: The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.

NLT: The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened.

KJV: And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

NKJV: So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

Jesus and the disciples have traveled across the Sea of Galilee to the eastern shore—the southwest portion of our modern-day Golan Heights. Jesus has expelled a legion of demons from a tormented man who lives in the tombs in the hillside. The demons enter a large herd of pigs and incite them to run down the hill to the sea, where they drown. The herdsmen are shocked: pigs don't naturally stampede, and they can swim.

The city the herdsmen flee to is probably the village of Gergesa, the capital of Gerasenes in the area of Decapolis. The larger city of Gadara is about seven to fifteen miles away, depending on where exactly the event occurs. It's likely that the herdsmen don't own the pigs, and part of their urgency is to notify the pigs' owners and bring them to Jesus as proof they aren't negligent.

In accounts of other miracles, the news of Jesus' ability to heal and expel demons quickly spreads despite His requests the events remain quiet (Mark 1:43–45; 5:43). Here, in a Gentile land that has no concept of the expected Messiah, the witnesses are more alarmed than pleased. Instead of swarming Jesus, seeking His teaching or healing, (Mark 3:7–10; 4:1; 5:21), they drive Him out in fear (Mark 5:17).

We see those same two reactions among the ways in which people respond to God in the modern world. Some are primarily concerned with worldly or material things, or entertainment, or want to use God for their own purposes, and some want Him to leave them alone, afraid of what He will do next. Those who sincerely seek God, or have been healed (Mark 5:18) know to trust God and yearn to be in His presence.

Mark 5:14–20 details the aftermath of Jesus freeing a possessed man from a legion of demons. The released demons entered into a herd of pigs, which ran into the Sea of Galilee and drowned. In response, the local villagers beg Jesus to leave, and Jesus obliges. The man, however, wants to follow. Jesus tells him to stay and spread the word of what he's experienced. When Jesus next travels through the area, the man's message leads to a much warmer welcome (Mark 7:31–37). You can also read this account in Luke 8:34–39 and possibly Matthew 8:33–34, although Matthew's story records two possessed men.

Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and heals a man afflicted by a ''legion'' of demons. In the aftermath of this event, Jesus once again crosses the waters within this region, known as the Decapolis. There, He is approached by a synagogue leader, begging Him to come and save a dying girl. In the midst of this trip, Jesus stops the crowd to identify a woman who attempted to covertly touch his robes; her faithful act results in healing. Jesus then continues on to the home of the synagogue leader and resurrects his recently-deceased child.

Mark 4:35—5:43 sees an increase in the scope of Jesus' miracles. He has just calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, He expels a legion of demons, heals a woman without overtly acting, and brings a girl back to life. All three situations—related to tombs, blood, and death—show Jesus bringing healing to unclean circumstances. In chapter 6, the tone of His ministry will develop. He will be rejected by those who should know Him best, He will send out His followers to do His work, and His direct link to the Old Testament prophets will be explained.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.