Chapter 26—Men from the Tombs
The night upon the water was over, and in the early morning Jesus
and the disciples landed, together with those who had followed them
across the sea. But no sooner had they stepped upon the beach than
two men possessed with devils rushed fiercely toward them as though
they desired to tear them in pieces. Still clinging to them were parts of
chains which they had broken, in escaping from confinement. They
were cutting and bruising themselves with sharp stones and other
missiles that they could lay their hands upon. They had been dwelling
among the graves, and no traveler had been safe to pass that way; for
they would rush upon him with the fury of demons and kill him if they
could. Their faces glared out from their long and matted hair, and they
looked more like wild beasts than men.
When the disciples and the others saw these fearful creatures rush-
ing toward them, they fled in terror. But presently they discovered that
Jesus was not with them, and they turned to see what had been his fate.
They beheld him standing calmly where they had left him. He who
stilled the tempest, he who had met Satan before and conquered him,
did not flee before these demons. When the men, gnashing their teeth,
and foaming at the mouth, approached him within a few feet, Jesus
raised that hand which had beckoned the waves to rest, and the men
could come no nearer. They stood raging but helpless before him.
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In accents of authority he bade the unclean spirits come out of
them. The words of Jesus penetrated the darkened minds of the men
enough for them to dimly realize that One was near who could save
them from the demons that tormented them. They fell at the feet of
Jesus, worshiping him. But when they opened their mouths to entreat
his mercy, the demon spoke through them and cried vehemently, “What
have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God, I adjure
thee by God, that thou torment me not!”
Jesus asked, “What is thy name?” and the answer was, “My name
is Legion; for we are many.” Using the afflicted men as mediums of
communication between themselves and Jesus, they besought him not
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