They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text specifies "the country of the Gerasenes" (or Gadarenes, as some manuscripts and other Gospels say), a region that was largely Gentile and known for its pig farming, which would have been taboo to observant Jews. This setting immediately signals a boundary crossing for Jesus, moving from the Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee into a place where he would encounter different cultural and spiritual dynamics.
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from commanding the storm on the sea, Jesus lands in a Gentile territory known for its unclean practices, immediately encountering a man violently possessed by a legion of demons. This terrifying encounter unfolds in a desolate region of tombs, highlighting the man's utter brokenness and the pervasive spiritual darkness of the area. The subsequent events, including the destruction of a large herd of pigs, will deeply disturb the local inhabitants and lead to Jesus's request to leave.
Jesus just calmed a storm, but His next encounter is with something far more chaotic. What does this new location reveal about the spiritual landscape?
Jesus and His disciples cross the Sea of Galilee to the 'country of the Gerasenes.' This region was known for being a place of mixed populations – Gentiles and some Jews – and was characterized by practices like raising pigs, which were forbidden by Jewish law.
A Gentile Territory
Imagine a man so consumed by evil that he lives among tombs and cannot be restrained. What does this intense description tell us about the power of spiritual oppression?
The immediate encounter upon landing is with a man possessed by an 'unclean spirit' (or 'demons' in some accounts). The description is stark and disturbing, painting a picture of extreme distress and alienation.
Living Among the Dead
Ask a follow-up
This vivid portrayal emphasizes the devastating impact of demonic influence, reducing a human being to a wild, self-destructive existence.
This event occurs in the Decapolis region, a predominantly Gentile area. Jesus' deliberate journey here, and the subsequent encounter with the demon-possessed man and the destruction of the swine, underscores Jesus' authority even in non-Jewish lands and highlights the cultural and religious divide between the Jewish disciples and the local population.
c. 1st century AD
Decapolis Region Flourishes
Decapolis, a league of ten Greek-speaking cities in Roman Syria and Jordan, was a significant cultural and economic center. This region, where Jesus later encountered the demon-possessed man, was known for its Hellenistic influence and Gentile population.
c. 1st century AD
Gadara: A Prominent Hellenistic City
Gadara, a major city in the Decapolis region, was known for its Greek culture and was a significant center in the area. Its proximity to the Sea of Galilee and its Gentile population are key elements in understanding Jesus' encounter.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Crosses the Sea of Galilee
Jesus and his disciples make the journey across the Sea of Galilee from a predominantly Jewish area to the eastern shore, entering the Gentile territory of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes). This deliberate crossing marks a significant moment, extending his ministry beyond Jewish communities.
c. 30 AD
The Gerasene Demoniac Encounter
Jesus encounters a man (or men, as in Matthew's account) violently possessed by a legion of demons. This dramatic event, marked by the destruction of a large herd of pigs, highlights Jesus' power over demonic forces and results in the townspeople's fear and request for Him to leave.
c. 30 AD
Man Sent to Proclaim Jesus' Deeds
After his deliverance, the formerly possessed man is instructed by Jesus to return to his home and family and share the 'great things God has done for him.' This marks the beginning of his role as a witness to Jesus' power in the Decapolis region.
This parallel account in Matthew's Gospel describes Jesus encountering two demon-possessed men, highlighting a different perspective on the same event and emphasizing the intensity of the demonic oppression.
Luke 8:26Luke's Gospel also recounts this encounter, providing further details and variations in the narrative that shed light on the spiritual battle taking place and the fear of the local inhabitants.
Deuteronomy 14:8This Old Testament passage explicitly forbids the consumption of pork, underscoring the religious and cultural significance of the swine in this Gentile territory and the shock their destruction would have caused.
Revelation 18:2This prophetic passage describes Babylon as a 'dwelling place of demons,' mirroring the demonic presence and activity encountered in the Gadarene region, a place often associated with pagan influences.
1 John 3:8This verse states that 'the Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil,' directly relating to Jesus' mission as demonstrated by His power over the 'legion' of demons.
bengelMark 5:1: "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes."
Mark 5:1 . Τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν , of the Gadarenes) Gadara , a city of Grecian origin [or Greek-like ], subject to the Jews; wherein it may be inferred that many Jews dwelt, from the fact that our Lord came to them. [ Doubtless it had the same port in common with Gerasa or Gergesa .—V. g.]
expositorsMark 5:1-20: "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes."
Chapter 5CHAPTER 5:1-20 (Mark 5:1-20)THE DEMONIAC OF GADARA "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; because that he had been often bound with fetters and…
The text specifies "the country of the Gerasenes" (or Gadarenes, as some manuscripts and other Gospels say), a region that was largely Gentile and known for its pig farming, which would have been taboo to observant Jews. This setting immediately signals a boundary crossing for Jesus, moving from the Jewish side of the Sea of Galilee into a place where he would encounter different cultural and spiritual dynamics.
Fresh from commanding the storm on the sea, Jesus lands in a Gentile territory known for its unclean practices, immediately encountering a man violently possessed by a legion of demons. This terrifying encounter unfolds in a desolate region of tombs, highlighting the man's utter brokenness and the pervasive spiritual darkness of the area. The subsequent events, including the destruction of a large herd of pigs, will deeply disturb the local inhabitants and lead to Jesus's request to leave.
Fresh from commanding the storm on the sea, Jesus lands in a Gentile territory known for its unclean practices, immediately encountering a man violently possessed by a legion of demons. This terrifying encounter unfolds in a desolate region of tombs, highlighting the man's utter brokenness and the pervasive spiritual darkness of the area. The subsequent events, including the destruction of a large herd of pigs, will deeply disturb the local inhabitants and lead to Jesus's request to leave.
"They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes." — The text specifies "the country of the Gerasenes" (or Gadarenes, as some manuscripts and other Gospels say), a region that was largely Gentile and known for its pig farming, which would have been tab…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026