Mark 5:1

The other side. [The Demoniacs of Gadara, Mark 5:1-20 = Matt. 8:28 to 9:1 = Luke 8:26-39. Major comment: Mark. See Middle Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on miracles pp. 208-213.] Of the three accounts of this miracle that of Mark is most graphic, and that of Matthew the briefest. “The other side” of the Lake of Galilee refers to the eastern shore, in the region of the Decapolis (see p. 46; see on Matt. 4:25). The preceding day Jesus had delivered the Sermon by the Sea, which consisted largely of parables (see Matt. 13), somewhere along the shore of Galilee bordering on the Plain of Gennesaret (see on Matt. 13:1). The distance across the lake at this point was about 7 mi. (11 km.). It was upon this crossing that Jesus had stilled the storm (see on Matt. 8:18).

His purpose in crossing to the less densely populated eastern shore at this time was to enjoy a brief respite from the throngs of people who were now pressing upon Him to the extent that He often had little or no time even to eat and sleep (see Mark 3:20).

Gadarenes. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 146) the reading Gerasenes, though important evidence may also be cited for Gergesenes and Gadarenes. In Matt. 8:28 evidence favors Gadarenes, but may also be cited for Gergesenes and Gerasenes. In Luke 8:26 evidence favors Gerasenes, but may also be cited for Gergesenes and Gadarenes.

The efforts of copyists and editors to harmonize the names in the three accounts are apparent. The consensus of evidence favors the reading Gerasenes, with evidence for each of the other two.

Though conclusive evidence is not now available, it is generally thought that Christ’s encounter with the Gadarene demoniacs occurred a short distance below what is now the village of Kursi, which is usually identified with the ancient Gergesa. Gadara was a city about 12 mi. (19 km.) to the south of this place, about 6 mi. (c. 10 km.) from the southern tip of the Lake of Galilee. It was at one time the capital of Decapolis (see on Matt. 4:25; Mark 5:20). Probably it was at this time the chief city of the district, and possibly gave the district its name. The city of Gerasa, 35 mi. (56 km.) to the southeast of the Lake of Galilee, can hardly be the place referred to in the account of this miracle. It is not impossible that there was a village by the same name not far from Gergesa, or that both Gerasa and Gergesa refer to the same village, now called Kursi.