Mark5
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
2And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;
4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.
5And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;
7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.
8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man.
9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.
10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.
12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.
14And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.
15And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid.
16And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.
17And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.
18And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.
19And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee.
20And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.
21And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea.
22And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,
23and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.
24And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.
25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,
26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.
28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.
29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.
30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?
31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
35While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further?
36But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.
37And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly.
39And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.
40And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was.
41And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.
42And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement.
43And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The demoniac healed. (1–20). A woman healed. (21–34). The daughter of Jairus raised. (35–43).
vv1-20
Some openly wilful sinners are like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to restrain sinners from their wicked courses; but they break those bands in sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legion of soldiers consisted of six thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion in one poor wretched creature! Many there are that rise up against us. We are not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the Lord, and in the power of his might, we shall be able to stand against them, though there are legions of them. When the vilest transgressor is delivered by the power of Jesus from the bondage of Satan, he will gladly sit at the feet of his Deliverer, and hear his word, who delivers the wretched slaves of Satan, and numbers them among his saints and servants. When the people found that their swine were lost, they had a dislike to Christ. Long-suffering and mercy may be seen, even in the corrections by which men lose their property while their lives are saved, and warning given them to seek the salvation of their souls. The man joyfully proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him. All men marvelled, but few followed him. Many who cannot but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him.
vv21-34
A despised gospel will go where it will be better received. One of the rulers of a synagogue earnestly besought Christ for a little daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. Another cure was wrought by the way. We should do good, not only when in the house, but when we walk by the way, De 6:7. It is common with people not to apply to Christ till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. Some run to diversions and gay company; others plunge into business, or even into intemperance; others go about to establish their own righteousness, or torment themselves by vain superstitions. Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus. The woman told all the truth. It is the will of Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend on Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find in ourselves that he is become our salvation. Those who, by faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go in peace.
vv35-43
We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.
Key Words
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
πέραν (péran): through (as adverb or preposition), i.e. across
θάλασσα (thálassa): the sea (genitive case or specially)
χώρα (chṓra): room, i.e. a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants)
Γαδαρηνός (Gadarēnós): a Gadarene or inhabitant of Gadara
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai): to issue (literally or figuratively)
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
Cross References
Mark 5Luke's parallel account containing identical core narratives of the Gadarene exorcism.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Matthew's parallel account of the Gadarene demoniacs, mentioning two possessed men.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Luke's parallel detailing Jairus, his position as ruler of the synagogue, and his plea.
Supported by JFB
Luke's parallel describing the woman with the flow of blood for twelve years.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's parallel records the demon's cry, 'Art Thou come to torment us before the time?'
Supported by JFB
Theological parallel: demons believe and tremble, recognizing their ultimate tormentor.
Supported by JFB
Old Testament law defining swine as unclean, explaining the illegality of the herd.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Matthew's parallel account of the ruler requesting Jesus to raise his daughter.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus uses identical sleep imagery for Lazarus before raising him from the dead.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Matthew's parallel account of the healing of the woman who touched Jesus' garment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Luke's parallel recording Jesus taking the girl's hand and commanding her to arise.
Supported by JFB
An identical demonic cry of 'What have I to do with thee' in Mark.
Supported by JFB
Levitcal law declaring a woman with a persistent issue of blood ceremonially unclean.
Peter mirrors Jesus' 'Talitha cumi' command when raising Tabitha ('Tabitha, arise').