And behold, the whole city
The inhabitants of it, not every individual person, but the
greater number of them, or, at least, a very great number of
them. Luke says, "the whole multitude of the country of the
Gadarenes round about": for as the news was carried both into the
city and country, great numbers flocked from all parts,
and came out to meet Jesus:
not out of any love and respect to him, and in order to invite
him, and conduct him into their city, and there receive him
kindly, and treat him with due honour and reverence; but either
out of curiosity to see such an extraordinary person, which,
doubtless, was the case of many; or, else being terrified at the
report concerning him, and distressed with their present loss,
which was the case of others, went out to prevent his coming any
further, lest they should suffer something worse: accordingly,
when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart
out of
their coasts;
which was done not as though they thought themselves unworthy the
presence of so great a person, as did the "centurion", in the
former part of this "chapter", or, as Peter, when he said,
"depart from me, I am a sinful man"; but as fearing, lest some
greater punishment should be inflicted on them for their sins, of
which they were conscious; and therefore make no complaint of any
injustice being done them by the loss of their swine; though
these they preferred to the presence of Christ, and even to any
cures wrought, or which might have been wrought, either upon the
bodies, or souls of men.