Mark 5:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

NIV: So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

NASB: And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

CSB: So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

NLT: So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

KJV: And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

NKJV: And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

The man whom Jesus saved from the legion of demons had lived in a graveyard in the hills above the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The larger area, east and south, was known as "Decapolis" or "ten cities." To us, the area is the Golan Heights, northwest Jordan, and southwest Syria.

This is the first time in Mark that Jesus has told someone to spread news of what He has done, and it's in a Gentile area. Ironically, the Gentiles are able to see Jesus as He is, without the weight of the prophecies of the Jewish Messiah. The Jews of Jesus' time anxiously await the coming of their savior, as they should, but they don't understand what the Messiah will save them from. Much of the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament focus on God's restoration of Israel as a strong, respected, independent nation. Nations will bring them riches, and a king from the line of David will sit on the throne.

When the Jews begin to understand Jesus is the Messiah, they expect Him to make all these prophecies come true in their lifetime. They don't understand that God's promises won't completely come to fruition until the Millennial Kingdom, far in the future. The Gentile view of Jesus is simpler. Instead of facing the Messianic expectation as a roadblock for understanding, the gospel can work in Gentile hearts by introducing a Man who heals injuries and illnesses and saves people from demons, and explaining that He also heals our relationship with God and saves us from sin.

This is the message that the man from the tombs begins to spread around Decapolis. Despite the people's initial misgivings (Mark 5:15–17), they will soon welcome Jesus (Mark 7:31–37). And in the time of the apostles, Christianity will spread.

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.