28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him. The man said with a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please don’t punish me!”
29. He said this because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. Many times it had taken hold of him. He had been kept under guard and chained hand and foot. But he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon out into the desert.
30. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”The man answered, “Legion.” (He said his name was “Legion” because many demons were in him.)
31. The demons begged Jesus not to send them into eternal darkness.
32. On the hill there was a large herd of pigs eating. The demons begged Jesus to allow them to go into the pigs. So Jesus allowed them to do this.
33. Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd of pigs ran down the hill and into the lake. All the pigs drowned.
34. The men who took care of the pigs ran away. They told about this in the town and the countryside.