Luke 8 35

Luke 8:35 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.

Luke 8:35 nkjv

Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 niv

and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 esv

Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 nlt

People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 35 Meaning

Luke 8:35 describes the outcome of a powerful miraculous deliverance. The local people, having heard of the events involving the demon-possessed man, came to investigate. They found the once-tormented individual sitting peacefully at Jesus' feet, no longer naked and raving, but properly clothed and restored to a sound mind. This scene presents undeniable proof of Jesus' authority over spiritual forces and brings profound restoration to a life previously bound by darkness. Their reaction, however, was not one of joy or praise, but profound fear.

Luke 8 35 Context

Luke 8:35 occurs immediately after Jesus' miraculous deliverance of the Gerasene demoniac, a man afflicted by a "legion" of demons who lived naked among the tombs and could not be bound. This event took place in the country of the Gerasenes, a predominantly Gentile region on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, explaining the presence of pigs, which were ritually unclean to Jews. Jesus had just permitted the demons to enter a herd of pigs, causing them to rush down a steep bank into the sea and drown. The swineherds, witnessing this colossal loss, fled to the city and the surrounding countryside, reporting everything that had transpired, including the incident with the demon-possessed man. Luke 8:35 then describes the citizens' reaction upon verifying the reports: they came to Jesus and observed the complete, undeniable transformation of the formerly madman.

Luke 8 35 Word analysis

• Then (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): Signifies a sequence of events. The action taken by the people to go out and confirm the unsettling news reported by the swineherds. It indicates an active investigative journey.
• they (plural pronoun): Refers to the "whole city" and "those who fed the pigs" mentioned in Lk 8:34. This includes the townsfolk, implying a collective community response.
• went out (ἐξῆλθον - exēlthon): Means they physically exited their towns or residences, venturing to the place where Jesus was, driven by curiosity and apprehension concerning the reported events.
• to see (ἰδεῖν - idein): Implies not just looking, but perceiving and understanding through observation. They sought to visually confirm the reports themselves, an eyewitness account.
• what had happened (γεγονὸς - gegonos): Refers to the entirety of the recent, astonishing events: the expulsion of the demons, the pigs drowning, and the radical change in the demoniac. It means "that which had come to pass."
• and came (ἦλθον - ēlthon): Emphasizes their arrival at Jesus' location, directly confronting the scene of the miracle.
• to Jesus: They directly approached the central figure of the dramatic events, acknowledging Him as the agent behind the power.
• and found (εὗρον - heurōn): Signifies discovery. What they found was not what they expected or previously knew, highlighting the profound transformation.
• the man: Refers to the individual they knew as the dangerous, untamable demoniac. The identity is confirmed despite the profound change.
• from whom the demons had departed (ἐξεληλυθότα - exelēlythota - "had come out from him"): This clause confirms the completed miracle, specifically focusing on the deliverance from demonic oppression as the core event. It highlights the direct causation by Jesus.
• sitting (καθήμενον - kathēmenon): A posture of rest, calmness, and often attentiveness. This contrasts sharply with his previous uncontrolled and frantic movements, suggesting peace and composure.
• at the feet of Jesus (παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Ἰησοῦ - para tous podas Iēsou): A deeply significant cultural posture in the ancient world. It denotes a position of submission, discipleship, and learning. Like Mary of Bethany (Lk 10:39) and Paul at Gamaliel's feet (Acts 22:3), the man adopted the position of a pupil or devotee, acknowledging Jesus' authority and wisdom. It shows he desired to be near Jesus and learn from Him.
• clothed (ἱματισμένον - himatismenon): Means properly dressed, indicating restoration of dignity and social acceptability. Luke 8:27 mentions he "wore no clothes." This proper attire signifies his return to normal human behavior and reintegration into society, moving from wild nakedness to modesty and order.
• and in his right mind (σωφρονοῦντα - sōphronounta): This is a crucial Greek word conveying sobriety, self-control, sanity, and sound judgment. It represents the full mental and psychological restoration, a return from madness to rational thought and composure. It is a state of spiritual and mental health.
• And they were afraid (ἐφοβήθησαν - ephobēthēsan): Their response was one of fear, not celebration. This awe-filled fear (phobos) stemmed from witnessing such extraordinary, terrifying power that had caused great economic loss, and from Jesus' authority which transcended their understanding and control. It signifies both holy awe and trepidation regarding divine power impacting their familiar world.

• "Then they went out to see what had happened": This phrase emphasizes the community's urgent and motivated curiosity. They weren't just idly passing by; they specifically sought to confirm the astonishing reports that reached them, indicating the gravity and magnitude of the events.
• "found the man...sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind": This group of words provides the visual, concrete evidence of the radical transformation. The threefold description—"sitting at the feet," "clothed," and "in his right mind"—stands in stark contrast to his previous desperate state, providing irrefutable proof of Jesus' divine power and complete restorative work. It showcases physical, social, and mental healing, a total restoration of the human being.
• "from whom the demons had departed...And they were afraid": This juxtaposes the miracle's effect (deliverance) with the people's reaction (fear). The reference to the "departed demons" explicitly confirms the supernatural origin of the healing. Their fear highlights the unsettling nature of divine power when it clashes with human comfort or economic interest. Their fear stemmed from an awe of Jesus' power, but also likely from the disruption it caused to their livelihood and perhaps a fear of what else this man of such power might do.

Luke 8 35 Bonus section

The region of the Gerasenes was populated primarily by Gentiles, as evidenced by the herd of pigs, which were unclean animals for Jews. This detail underscores Jesus' mission extending beyond Jewish territories to bring deliverance to Gentiles, showcasing His universal compassion and authority. The sheer number of demons, described as "Legion" (Lk 8:30), indicated the overwhelming magnitude of the man's possession and the severe challenge to any lesser authority. The successful, complete expulsion of such a powerful demonic entity confirms Jesus' absolute dominion over all spiritual powers (Col 2:15). The locals' fear, while a natural human reaction to extraordinary power and loss, also reflects a preference for economic stability over spiritual healing, an attitude that contrasts sharply with the delivered man's desire to follow Jesus (Lk 8:38). Ultimately, this narrative sets the stage for the delivered man becoming the first Gentile missionary, tasked by Jesus to tell his testimony to his own people (Lk 8:39), a significant moment prefiguring the worldwide spread of the gospel.

Luke 8 35 Commentary

Luke 8:35 is the climax of the Gerasene demoniac's deliverance, showcasing the profound power of Jesus over spiritual forces and the remarkable transformation He brings. The contrast between the man's former tormented, undignified existence (naked, raving, in tombs) and his current state of composure, clothing, and sanity at Jesus' feet is striking. This is more than just an exorcism; it is a holistic restoration, impacting his physical appearance, social integration, and mental faculties. His "right mind" (σωφρονοῦντα) underscores that true healing involves sanity and self-control. His posture "at the feet of Jesus" speaks volumes of his humility, gratitude, and newfound discipleship. Ironically, while the formerly madman is now rational and composed, the community's response is one of primal fear, highlighting their focus on the loss of their swine rather than the magnificent spiritual deliverance and restoration of a human being. Their fear suggests a deeper discomfort with the uncontrollable and immense power of Jesus, which threatens their worldly security and established order, leading them to prefer Jesus' departure rather than embracing the source of life and truth. This stark contrast between the transformed individual's calm reverence and the community's terror underscores a crucial biblical theme: divine intervention often elicits a response of awe, but whether that awe leads to faith or rejection depends on human priorities.