2. Jesus got out of the boat. A man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
3. The man lived in the tombs. No one could keep him tied up anymore. Not even a chain could hold him.
4. His hands and feet had often been chained. But he tore the chains apart. And he broke the iron cuffs on his ankles. No one was strong enough to control him.
5. Night and day he screamed among the tombs and in the hills. He cut himself with stones.
6. When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran to him. He fell on his knees in front of him.
7. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? Promise before God that you won't hurt me!"
8. This was because Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
9. Then Jesus asked the demon, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied. "There are many of us."
10. And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.
12. The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs. Let us go into them."
13. Jesus allowed it. The evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. There were about 2,000 pigs in the herd. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.
14. Those who were tending the pigs ran off. They told the people in the town and countryside what had happened. The people went out to see for themselves.