Mark 5:1-20

They arrived on the other side of the lake in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat a man with an evil spirit came from the graveyard to meet him. This man lived among the tombs, and it had been impossible to tie him up any longer, even with a chain. He had often been tied up with chains and shackles, but he simply tore the chains apart and broke the shackles into pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Day and night he was always shouting out among the tombs and in the hills nearby, cutting himself with sharp stones. Seeing Jesus from a distance he ran and kneeled in front of him. In a loud voice he cried out, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of Almighty God? Swear by God that you won't torture me!” For Jesus had already told the evil spirit to leave the man. Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion, because we are many!” he replied. He also repeatedly pleaded with Jesus not to send them a long way away. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby. The evil spirits pleaded with him, “Send us to the pigs so we can enter them.” Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep cliff into the sea and drowned. The pig-keepers ran away, and spread the news all over town and in the countryside. People came out to see what had happened. When they found Jesus they saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting there, dressed, and in his right mind—the one who had the legion of evil spirits—and they became frightened! Then those who had seen what had happened to the man who had been demon-possessed and the pigs told the others. They began pleading with Jesus to leave their district. As Jesus climbed into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus refused, telling him, “Go home to your own people, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has been merciful to you.” So the man went on his way and began to tell the people of the Ten Cities everything Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.