6
The man saw Jesus at a distance. So he ran [to Jesus], bowed down in front of him,
7
and shouted, "Why are you bothering me now, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me."
8
He shouted this because Jesus said, "You evil spirit, come out of the man."
9
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He told Jesus, "My name is Legion [Six Thousand], because there are many of us."
10
He begged Jesus not to send them out of the territory.
11
A large herd of pigs was feeding on a mountainside nearby.
12
The demons begged him, "Send us into the pigs! Let us enter them!"
13
Jesus let them do this. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and drowned.
14
Those who took care of the pigs ran away. In the city and countryside they reported everything that had happened. So the people came to see what had happened.
15
They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. The man was sitting there dressed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.
16
Those who saw this told what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs.