Luke 8:28 kjv
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Luke 8:28 nkjv
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!"
Luke 8:28 niv
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"
Luke 8:28 esv
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me."
Luke 8:28 nlt
As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, "Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!"
Luke 8 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 8:16 | When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him... | Jesus' power over demons |
| Mark 1:27 | They were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this?..." | Jesus' authoritative teaching and power |
| Luke 4:36 | And they were all amazed, and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word..." | Demons obey Jesus' command |
| Acts 19:15 | But the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know..." | Demons recognize divine authority |
| Matt 8:29 | And behold, they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, Son of God?..." | Demons acknowledge Jesus' identity |
| Mark 1:24 | "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?..." | Demon's plea for distance from Jesus |
| Mark 3:11 | And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out... | Demons recognizing Jesus' identity |
| Mark 5:7 | And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?..." | Parallel account, similar demonic confession |
| Luke 4:34 | "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?..." | Demon acknowledges Jesus' holiness |
| Luke 4:41 | And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!..." | Demons testify to Jesus' divine sonship |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment... | Divine judgment awaiting evil spirits |
| Rev 20:10 | The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | Ultimate fate of torment for evil |
| Matt 25:41 | "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels...' " | Eternal fire prepared for fallen angels |
| Luke 1:32 | He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest... | Angel Gabriel declares Jesus' sonship |
| Acts 16:17 | This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God..." | Demonic recognition of divine agents |
| Heb 4:14 | Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God... | Jesus' identity as Son of God |
| Heb 7:3 | ...without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God... | Son of God implying eternal nature |
| Mark 5:6 | When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down before Him. | Parallel account: act of prostration |
| Phil 2:10 | that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth... | Universal submission to Jesus' name |
| John 2:4 | Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?..." | Similar idiom of separation or boundary |
| Acts 10:38 | ...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil... | Jesus' mission to defeat oppression |
| Rom 16:20 | And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. | Ultimate victory over Satan and his forces |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 28 Meaning
This verse captures the immediate, terrifying recognition by a demon-possessed man of Jesus' divine identity and supreme authority. The demon, speaking through the man, spontaneously prostrates himself and vocally acknowledges Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God." This admission is followed by a desperate plea to Jesus not to inflict torment upon it, revealing the demon's inherent fear of divine judgment and the power Jesus possesses to enact it. It highlights Jesus' unparalleled dominion over the spiritual realm.
Luke 8 28 Context
Luke 8:28 is part of the account where Jesus crosses over to the region of the Gerasenes (or Gadarenes), a Gentile area. This episode immediately follows Jesus calming a storm at sea, showcasing His power over nature. Upon arrival, He is met by a man grievously afflicted by multiple demons. The historical context indicates that the region of the Decapolis, where Gerasa was located, was Gentile territory, making Jesus' presence and interaction with this demon-possessed individual significant, extending His ministry beyond Jewish boundaries. The incident precedes the casting out of the demons into a herd of swine, further emphasizing Jesus' absolute authority over evil spirits and the devastating effect they have on human life, while also demonstrating the profound fear the demons have of Him.
Luke 8 28 Word analysis
- When he saw Jesus: The initial contact. The demonic spirit's immediate perception is of Jesus' true nature, leading to an instant, fear-filled reaction.
- he cried out (ἀνακράζω - anakrazō): Implies a sharp, sudden, loud shriek or shout. It conveys a strong emotional reaction, here one of terror and desperation in the presence of overwhelming power.
- and fell down (προσπίπτω - prospiptō) before Him: To fall forward on one's face, to prostrate oneself. This posture can signify worship, reverence, supplication, or overwhelming fear and submission. In this context, it embodies a compelled, fearful homage due to Jesus' divine authority, a posture forced by power rather than chosen devotion.
- and with a loud voice said: Emphasizes the intensity and public nature of the demon's address to Jesus. It highlights the spirit's alarm and determination to be heard.
- 'What have I to do with You, Jesus?' (Τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί - Ti emoi kai soi): An idiomatic Greek expression signifying "What concern is there between us?" or "Why are you interfering with me?" It communicates a demand to be left alone, an attempt to assert boundaries, stemming from the demon's awareness of an irreconcilable conflict of interest and power between itself and Jesus. It implies that Jesus' presence is an intrusion that portends an unfavorable outcome for the demon.
- 'Son of the Most High God?' (Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ Ὑψίστου - Huie tou Theou tou Hypsistou): A profound declaration of Jesus' divine identity coming from an adversarial spiritual entity. "Son of the Most High" refers to Jesus' unique relationship with God, particularly God as "El Elyon," the supreme, sovereign God of all creation. This title affirms Jesus' deity, supremacy, and power, which even demons recognize and tremble before.
- 'I beg You (δέομαι - deomai), do not torment (βασανίσῃς - basanisēis) me!': A desperate plea, reflecting the demon's fear of Jesus' judgment. "To beg" conveys earnest supplication. "To torment" means to distress, afflict, examine by torture, or punish. The demon is fully aware of its impending judgment and temporary state, pleading for deferment or mitigation of the inevitable punishment Jesus has the authority to mete out. This anticipates the ultimate fate of all evil spirits in judgment.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him": This rapid sequence highlights the demon's immediate, instinctual recognition of Jesus' absolute authority, leading to a visible, physical reaction of prostration—a form of coerced worship or terrified submission.
- "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?": This phrase serves as both a recognition and a desperate challenge. The demon identifies Jesus' supreme deity even as it tries to distance itself, acknowledging that Jesus possesses the ultimate authority over it as the Divine Son.
- "I beg You, do not torment me!": This demonstrates the demons' profound awareness of future judgment and their present vulnerability to Jesus' power. The fear of "torment" points to their understanding of an eschatological reality that Jesus has the power to bring about.
Luke 8 28 Bonus section
The recognition of Jesus' identity by evil spirits contrasts sharply with the unbelief or misunderstanding often displayed by human beings in the Gospels, even by religious leaders. The demons' theological confession is ironically more accurate and immediate than that of many of Jesus' contemporaries. The term "Most High God" (El Elyon) is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, denoting God's sovereignty over all creation, nations, and powers, highlighting the universality of Jesus' authority beyond ethnic or geographic boundaries. This account also foreshadows the final defeat and judgment of all evil forces at the end of time, a fate that the demons, by their plea, acknowledge as certain.
Luke 8 28 Commentary
Luke 8:28 presents a striking display of Jesus' inherent and acknowledged deity. The encounter with the Gerasene demoniac is a powerful testament to Jesus' supreme authority, which transcends natural laws, human understanding, and even the spiritual hierarchies of darkness. The demon's spontaneous, fear-filled cry and act of prostration serve as an involuntary, yet profound, confession of Jesus' divine Sonship. This is a dramatic moment of Christological revelation, emphasizing that even those entities diametrically opposed to God are forced to acknowledge His Son's identity and power. The demon's plea "do not torment me" underscores the reality of divine judgment and the terror it instills in spiritual adversaries, affirming Jesus' ultimate power to deliver justice. It exemplifies how Jesus' very presence casts light on spiritual darkness, compelling it to reveal itself and submit, regardless of its desire.