Mark 5:17

17 And they began to beg him to depart from their coasts.

Mark 5:17 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 5:17

And they began to pray him
That is, the inhabitants of the city of Gadara, and of the villages round about, very earnestly importuned him

to depart out of their coasts;
fearing, lest for their sins, some sorer judgment should fall upon them, than the loss of their swine; since they perceived he was a person of great power and authority; which shows great ignorance and worldly mindedness: they knew not how great a person they had among them; that he was the Son of God, and Saviour of the world: they might have known from the miracles wrought, that he was a very wonderful and extraordinary person; but then they considered him as one endued with great power, rather, to do them hurt than good; as one sent to scourge them for their sins, than to save them from them: such very contrary notions have carnal men of Christ; they are afraid of being sufferers, or losers by him: they do not care to part with their swinish lusts for him; these they prefer to a Saviour, and love the world, and the things of it, more than he, and therefore are not worthy of him; (See Gill on Matthew 8:34).

Mark 5:17 In-Context

15 And they come to Jesus, and they see the possessed of demons sitting [and] clothed and sensible, [him] that had had the legion: and they were afraid.

16 And they that had seen [it] related to them how it had happened to the [man] possessed by demons, and concerning the swine.

17 And they began to beg him to depart from their coasts.

18 And as he went on board ship, the man that had been possessed by demons besought him that he might be with him.

19 And he suffered him not, but says to him, Go to thine home to thine own people, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for thee, and has had mercy on thee.