1 They traveled to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes.
2 Just as he got out of the boat a man with an unclean spirit came to him from the tombs.
3 He was living in the tombs. No man was able to bind him even with a chain.
4 Often he was bound in chains and iron bands but he would break them. No man was strong enough to keep him still.
5 Day and night in the tombs and in the mountains he cried out. He would cut himself with stones.
6 He saw Jesus from far off and quickly approached and bowed down before him.
7 Crying out with a loud voice, he said: »What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the highest God? In Gods name do not torment me!«
8 Jesus commanded: »Come out of the man you unclean spirit!«
9 Then Jesus said: »What is your name?« He answered: »My name is Legion because there are a great number of us.«
10 He earnestly implored him not to send the spirits away out of the country.
11 There was a large herd of pigs feeding on the mountainside.
12 They pleaded with Jesus: »Send us into the pigs!«
13 He let them do it. Then the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd went rushing down a sharp slope into the sea. About two thousand of them died in the sea.
14 Their keepers ran off to the town to tell others what happened. People came to see what had taken place.