12. The evil spirits begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs. Let us go into them.”
13. So Jesus allowed them to do this. The evil spirits left the man and went into the pigs. Then the herd of pigs rushed down the hill into the lake and were drowned. There were about 2,000 pigs in that herd.
14. The men who took care of the pigs ran away. They went to the town and to the countryside, telling everyone about this. So people went out to see what had happened.
15. They came to Jesus and saw the man who had had the many evil spirits. The man was sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. The people were frightened.
16. Some people were there who saw what Jesus had done. They told the others what had happened to the man who had the demons living in him. And they also told about the pigs.
17. Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area.
18. Jesus was getting ready to leave in the boat. The man who was freed from the demons begged to go with him.
19. But Jesus would not allow the man to go. Jesus said, “Go home to your family and friends. Tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.”
20. So the man left and told the people in the Ten Towns about the great things Jesus had done for him. All the people were amazed.
21. Jesus went in the boat back to the other side of the lake. There, a large crowd gathered around him.
22. A ruler from the synagogue, named Jairus, came to that place. Jairus saw Jesus and bowed before him.
23. The ruler begged Jesus again and again. He said, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her. Then she will be healed and will live.”
24. So Jesus went with the ruler, and many people followed Jesus. They were pushing very close around him.
25. A woman was there who had been bleeding for the past 12 years.