Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 5:20

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him, And all men did marvel.

This Famous piece of History hath the testimony of three Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We meeting with it in Matthew, did not only largely open what passages Matthew hath about it, but what both Mark and Luke have. See the Notes on Matth. 8.28, 29, 30. &c. We shall only annex here some short notes. Interpreters judge the country of the Gergasenes, and of the Gaderenes mentioned here to have been the same, sometimes receiving the denomination from one City, sometimes from another in it. Why the Devils are called Vnclean Spirits, in Opposition to the Holy Spirit, &c. We have formerly shewed, as also Why, they delight to be about Tombs, we have also shewed his Power, which (by Gods permission) he excerciseth upon Men, some he possesseth, and acteth the part of the Soul in them, (especially as to the locomotive faculty) these are properly called Demoniacks, [non-Latin text not transcribed], others he afflicteth more as a Forreign agent, offering violence to them. Others he more secretly influenceth, by Impressions, and Suggestions, thus he still ordinarily worketh in the Children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. nor are the People of God free from this impetus, tho being succoured by Christ, they are not so ordinarily overcome. Of the mighty Power of the Evil Angels to break Chains and Fetters, we need not doubt, considering that tho fallen from their first righteousness, they yet have their natural Power as Spirits. I adjure thee by God, is no more then, I solemnly intreat thee, it hath not the force of, Swear unto me by God, (as some would have it.) Matthew mentioneth two of these Demoniaks, Mark and Luke but one; there were doubtless two, but probably one of them was not so raging as the others and therefore less taken notice of. Some think one of these Men, was an Heathen, the other a Iew. Because the term Legion which the Demoniack gives himself is an Heathen term, signifying a Squadron of Soldiers, about six thousand or more, as some reckon. 2. Christ was now in a Country full of Heathens. 3. The Woman of whose cure we next read was a Syrophenician. It is observable that a multitude of evil Spirits, is called by the name of the Devil; because tho considered as individual Spirits they are many, yet in their Malice and mischievous designs against mankind, they are as one. O that the People of God were as well united in designs for his Glory! Some Interpreters start a Question here, not very easie to be resolved, viz. What made the Devils so desirous that Christ would not send them out of the Country. Their Answer is not improbable. That it was a Paganish ignorant Sottish place, Where usually the Devil hath the best Markets, and the greatest Rule. For as it is said of Christ, that he could not do much in some places, where he came because of their unbelief: So neither can the Devil do much in some places, because of the Faith of the Gospel received by them. Hence it is observable, That as the Devil is not able to play his Game in any place amongst Christians, as he doth this Day amongst Heathens: So he hath much less Power at this day in places, where the Word of God is more generally known, and more faithfully Preached, than in other places where People are more Ignorant of the Scriptures, and have less faithful and frequent Preaching. In the latter he dealeth most by more inward Suggestions and Impressions. Our Learned Dr. Lightfoot observes it probable, that this City or Country was generally made up of Pagans, or Apostatized Jews, because they nourished so many Swine, which to the Jews were unclean Beasts. For other things relating to the Explication of this History, see the Notes on Matth. 8.24, 25, 26.