2
As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs.
3
This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain.
4
He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one was tough enough to control him.
5
Night and day in the tombs and the hills, he would howl and cut himself with stones.
6
When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and knelt before him,
7
shouting, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"
8
He said this because Jesus had already commanded him, "
Unclean spirit, come out of the man!"
9
Jesus asked him, "
What is your name?" He responded, "Legion is my name, because we are many."
10
They pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of that region.
11
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside.
12
"Send us into the pigs!" they begged. "Let us go into the pigs!"