Mark 5:17

17 And they began to pray him, that he should go away from their coasts. [+And they began to pray him, that he should go away out of 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 came to Jesus, and saw him that had been travailed of the fiend [And they came to Jesus, and they see him that was travailed of the fiend], sitting clothed, and of whole mind; and they dreaded.

16 And they that saw, how it was done to him that had a fiend, and of the swine, told to them. [And they told to them, that saw, how it was done to him that had a fiend, and of the swine.]

17 And they began to pray him, that he should go away from their coasts. [+And they began to pray him, that he should go away out of their coasts.]

18 And when he went up into a boat, he that was travailed of the devil, began to pray him, that he should be with him.

19 But Jesus received him not, but said to him [but saith to him], Go thou into thine house to thine, and tell to them, how great things the Lord hath done to thee, and had mercy of thee.