Luke 8:27
When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke emphasizes that this man, though living among the dead, was "of the city," highlighting his former life and separation from society. His nakedness and dwelling in tombs weren't just symptoms of possession, but signs of extreme degradation and alienation from God's intended order and community.
After Jesus calms a raging storm at sea, he lands in the region of the Gadarenes and is immediately confronted by a man who has been tormented by demons for a very long time, living a wild, isolated life among the tombs. This encounter immediately contrasts Jesus' divine peace with the man's utter chaos, setting the stage for a dramatic display of Jesus' authority over the spiritual realm.
Imagine stepping onto shore and being immediately confronted by extreme brokenness. This isn't just a bad day; it's a life lived in utter ruin.
The man met by Jesus is a stark picture of humanity's fallen state when left to the power of darkness. His condition highlights:
Why does the text specify he was 'from the city' yet lived outside it? This detail points to a crucial theme about where true belonging lies.
The description of the man as 'from the city' but living among tombs is significant. It tells us:
In a world filled with suffering and darkness, who holds the real power? Jesus' arrival instantly changes the landscape.
Understand the original words
daimonion · Greek Noun
A supernatural, malevolent spiritual being subordinate to Satan that opposes God and seeks to corrupt, possess, or afflict human beings. They are fallen angels who rebelled against God.
c. 1st century AD
Roman Rule in Judea
Judea was under Roman occupation, creating a tense political and social climate. The Roman presence, with its legions and local client rulers, significantly impacted daily life and religious observance.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish Society and Purity Laws
Jewish society strictly adhered to purity laws. Places like tombs were considered ritually unclean, and individuals living among them or in public without clothes were seen as profoundly outside societal norms and religious order.
c. 1st century AD
Demon Possession Beliefs
The concept of demon possession was understood within Jewish and regional cultures. It was often associated with severe mental and physical affliction, social ostracism, and a loss of self-control, sometimes linked to spirits of the dead.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Encounters the Demoniac
Jesus arrives in the region of the Gadarenes. Upon disembarking, he is immediately confronted by a man violently afflicted by demons, living in extreme isolation and distress among tombs outside the city.
This passage describes the same event, emphasizing the man's extreme affliction and his dwelling among the tombs, highlighting the depth of his torment.
Matthew 8:28Matthew's Gospel describes two demon-possessed men, reinforcing the supernatural power of Jesus over multiple demonic entities and the severity of their impact on human lives.
1 Samuel 16:14This passage illustrates King Saul being tormented by an evil spirit, showing a parallel in Scripture where individuals are afflicted by unseen spiritual forces, though Jesus' power over demons is far more authoritative.
Revelation 12:9This verse speaks of the great dragon, the ancient serpent, also called the devil and Satan, who leads the whole world astray, connecting the specific demons in this man to the larger cosmic battle against spiritual evil.
gillLuke 8:27: "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs."
And when he went forth to land,.... The Persic and Ethiopic versions read, when they went forth to land; when Christ and his disciples came out of the ship, and went ashore: there met him out of the city a certain man; or rather, there met him a certain man of the city; that is, one that belonged to, and was an i…
pulpitLuke 8:27: "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs."
Verse 27. - There met him out of the city a certain man; better rendered, there met him a man of the city. He had been a dweller in Gergesa in old days before the terrible possession began. St. Matthew, in his account, tells us of two demoniacs. SS, Mark and Luke, however, both only mention one, the other for som…
Luke emphasizes that this man, though living among the dead, was "of the city," highlighting his former life and separation from society. His nakedness and dwelling in tombs weren't just symptoms of possession, but signs of extreme degradation and alienation from God's intended order and community.
After Jesus calms a raging storm at sea, he lands in the region of the Gadarenes and is immediately confronted by a man who has been tormented by demons for a very long time, living a wild, isolated life among the tombs. This encounter immediately contrasts Jesus' divine peace with the man's utter chaos, setting the stage for a dramatic display of Jesus' authority over the spiritual realm.
After Jesus calms a raging storm at sea, he lands in the region of the Gadarenes and is immediately confronted by a man who has been tormented by demons for a very long time, living a wild, isolated life among the tombs. This encounter immediately contrasts Jesus' divine peace with the man's utter chaos, setting the stage for a dramatic display of Jesus' authority over the spiritual realm.
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This encounter isn't just about a man being freed; it's a cosmic declaration of Jesus' authority.
"When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs." — Luke emphasizes that this man, though living among the dead, was "of the city," highlighting his former life and separation from society. His nakedness and dwelling in tombs weren't just symptoms of…
