2
When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him.
3
This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain.
4
Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5
Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6
When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him.
7
With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”
8
For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9
Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
10
Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11
There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.
12
“Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”