Luke 8:29

29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts.

Luke 8:29 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:29

For he had commanded the unclean spirit.
&c.] That had the rest of the devils under his authority, and power,

to come out of the man;
this he had done, either before, or just as he came up to him; (See Gill on Mark 5:8).

For oftentimes it had caught him;
possessed him, and wrought so strongly in him, and with so much fury, that there was no governing him: and he was kept bound with chains and fetters;
attempts were made to bind him, and keep him bound, but in vain: and he brake the bands; (See Gill on Mark 5:4). And was driven of the devil into the wilderness:
into some desert and desolate place, where were the tombs and sepulchres of the dead; this was done by the prince of the legion.

Luke 8:29 In-Context

27 And as he got out [of the ship] on the land, a certain man out of the city met him, who had demons a long time, and put on no clothes, and did not abide in a house, but in the tombs.

28 But seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee torment me not.

29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts.

30 And Jesus asked him saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: for many demons had entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the bottomless pit.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'Of a long time.'