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Luke 8:35

in Luke 8

So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.

KJV

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

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This verse in Luke 8

Commentary

12 notes on this verse
The well-known narrative which we have now read, is carefully recorded by all of the first three Gospel-writers. It is a striking instance of our Lord's complete dominion over the evil prince of this world. We see the great enemy of our souls for once completely vanquished — the "strong man" foiled by One stronger than he — and the lion spoiled of his prey. Let us mark, first, in this passage — the miserable condition of those over whom the devil reigns. The picture brought before us is a frightful one.

This site's exposition

those tending the pigs

on Luke 8:34-37

The people found the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, yet great fear had taken hold of them. They asked Jesus to depart, and deliverance seen firsthand was refused when its cost looked too high.

This site's exposition

sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind

Each detail reverses verse 27, where he wore no clothing, lived in the tombs and was driven by the demon. Bede compares the people's fear to honouring Jesus while being unwilling to endure Him. The townspeople see him and are afraid.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Titus of Bostra

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 378.

proposed

But the severity of their loss led them to the Saviour; for it follows, Then they went out to see what was done, and came to Jesus; and here remark, that while God punishes men in their substance, He confers a blessing upon their souls. But when they had set out, they see him in his right mind who had been long vexed. It follows, And they found the man out of whom the devils had departed sitting at the feet of Jesus clothed, (whereas before he was naked,) and in his right mind. For he departed not from those feet, where he obtained safety; and so acknowledging the miracle, they were astonished at the cure of the malady, and marvelled at the event; for it follows, And they were afraid.

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

Secondly, as regards the investigation of the truth heard, it is added: And they went out to see what was done, and they came to Jesus. They went out, I say, for inquiry; Song of Songs 3: "Go forth, daughters of Sion, and see king …

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 8 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

Note here that according to the letter, four notable points can be drawn from what has been said. The first is that the Lord willed to be made known to others through lowly and humble persons, such as through swineherds and herdsmen. Second, that not …

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

Those who came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, at His feet, and they were afraid, etc. This signifies the multitude delighted with ancient sweetness, honoring indeed, but unwilling to endure …

The Reformation1 voice

A commentator

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

proposed

While he is still speaking, there come from the ruler of the synagogue persons who say, Thy daughter is dead: why dost thou trouble the Master any farther? And immediately on hearing the word which was said, he saith to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

For many times it had caught him - Therefore our compassionate Lord made the more haste to cast him out. The abyss - That is, the bottomless pit. To enter into the swine - Not that they were any easier in the swine than out of them.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

While he was under the devil's power he was ready to fly in the face of Jesus; but now he sits at his feet, which is a sign that he is come to his right mind.
Then they went out to see what was done,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

The well-known narrative which we have now read, is carefully recorded by all of the first three Gospel-writers. It is a striking instance of our Lord's complete dominion over the evil prince of this world. We see the great enemy of our souls for once completely vanquished — the "strong man" foiled by One stronger than he — and the lion spoiled of his prey. Let us mark, first, in this passage — the miserable condition of those over whom the devil reigns. The picture brought before us is a frightful one. We are told that when our Lord arrived in the country of the Gadarenes, "He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house — but had lived in the tombs." We are also told that although he had been "bound with chains and in fetters — he broke the chains, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness." In short, the case seems to have been one of the most aggravated forms of demon possession. The unhappy sufferer was under the complete dominion of Satan — both in body and soul. As long as he continued in this state — he must have been a burden and a trouble to all around him. His mental faculties were under the control of a "legion" of demons. His bodily strength was only employed for his own injury and shame. It is difficult to conceive of a more pitiable state for mortal man to be in! Cases of bodily possession by Satan, like this, are, to say the least, very rarely met with in modern times. Yet we must not, on this account, forget that the devil is continually exercising a fearful power over many hearts and souls. He still urges many, in whose hearts he reigns, into self-dishonoring and self-destroying habits of life. He still rules many with a rod of iron. He goads them on from vice to vice, and from profligacy to profligacy.

The words behind it

30 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

2 Timothy 1:7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.56 worksLuke 10:39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.10 worksMatthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.5 worksLuke 15:17Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!5 worksPsalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.4 works1 John 3:8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.4 worksDeuteronomy 33:3Surely You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words—4 worksLuke 8:27When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.3 worksHebrews 2:14–15Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,3 worksIsaiah 53:12Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.3 worksTitus 2:2Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.3 worksGenesis 28:17And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”3 worksMark 5:15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.2 worksLuke 2:46Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.2 worksIsaiah 49:24–25Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?2 worksEzekiel 20:1In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.2 works2 Kings 4:38When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet, he said to his attendant, “Put on the large pot and boil some stew for the sons of the prophets.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Psalms 51:10

    Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 11:19

      And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,

    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

      Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

    • Ephesians 4:22–24

      to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

    • Matthew 5:8

      Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

    • Ezekiel 18:31

      Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

  • Through

    1 John 3:8

    The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the…

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 2:14

      Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

    • John 8:44

      You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him.…

    • Colossians 2:15

      And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Where this verse is studied

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
Luke: the study guide →Read Luke 8 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 8; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Titus of Bostra, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.

Read on in Luke 8 →