Mark 5:20 Study Bible: So he went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.

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So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

Study Bible

So the man went away
This phrase indicates a decisive action taken by the man who had been healed by Jesus. The Greek word for "went away" is "ἀπῆλθεν" (apēlthen), which implies a departure with purpose. This reflects the transformative power of Jesus' healing, compelling the man to leave his previous life and embark on a new mission. Historically, this action signifies the beginning of his testimony, a common response to divine intervention in the Bible.

and began to proclaim
The Greek word "κηρύσσειν" (kērussein) is used here, meaning "to proclaim" or "to preach." This is not a mere sharing of information but a bold declaration of the truth. The man becomes an evangelist, spreading the good news of what Jesus has done. This act of proclamation is central to Christian witness, emphasizing the importance of sharing personal testimonies of faith and transformation.

throughout the Decapolis
The Decapolis was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire, known for their Greek culture and pagan practices. By proclaiming Jesus' works in this region, the man was entering a mission field ripe for evangelism. This highlights the universal scope of the Gospel, transcending cultural and religious boundaries, and the courage required to witness in potentially hostile environments.

how much Jesus had done for him
This phrase underscores the personal nature of the man's testimony. The Greek word "ὅσα" (hosa) means "how much" or "all that," indicating the completeness and magnitude of Jesus' work in his life. It reflects the transformative power of Jesus' miracles, which are not just physical healings but also spiritual restorations. This personal testimony serves as a powerful tool for evangelism, as it is rooted in personal experience and gratitude.

And everyone was amazed
The reaction of amazement, from the Greek "ἐθαύμαζον" (ethaumazon), suggests a profound impact on those who heard the man's testimony. This amazement is not just a superficial surprise but a deep wonder that opens hearts to the possibility of faith. It reflects the power of a genuine testimony to move others and the role of divine encounters in drawing people to God. The amazement of the crowd serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring nature of Jesus' works and the potential for personal accounts to inspire belief and transformation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Man (formerly demon-possessed)
This individual was previously possessed by a legion of demons and lived among the tombs, isolated from society. After Jesus healed him, he became a witness to Christ's power and mercy.

2. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority over evil spirits and His compassion for those in bondage.

3. Decapolis
A region consisting of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. It was predominantly Gentile, making the man's testimony significant as it spread the news of Jesus beyond Jewish territories.

4. The Healing Event
Prior to this verse, Jesus exorcised a legion of demons from the man, sending them into a herd of pigs, which then drowned in the sea. This miraculous event led to the man's transformation and subsequent testimony.

5. The Amazement of the People
The reaction of the people in the Decapolis highlights the impact of the man's testimony and the power of Jesus' works.

Teaching Points

The Power of Personal Testimony
Personal experiences of Jesus' work in our lives can be powerful tools for evangelism. Like the man, we are called to share our accounts of transformation.

Jesus' Authority Over Evil
Jesus' ability to cast out demons demonstrates His supreme authority over spiritual forces. Believers can find comfort and confidence in His power to deliver and protect.

Cross-Cultural Evangelism
The man's witness in a predominantly Gentile region underscores the importance of sharing the Gospel across cultural and ethnic boundaries.

The Impact of Obedience
The man's obedience to Jesus' command to share his account resulted in widespread amazement and the spread of the Gospel. Our obedience can have a similar impact.

The Role of Amazement in Faith
The amazement of the people in the Decapolis suggests that witnessing God's work can lead to curiosity and openness to faith. We should pray for and expect God to work in ways that inspire awe.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the transformation of the demon-possessed man illustrate the power of Jesus in our own lives?

2. In what ways can we share our personal testimonies to impact those around us, similar to the man in the Decapolis?

3. What does this passage teach us about the importance of cross-cultural evangelism, and how can we apply this in our communities today?

4. How can we cultivate a sense of amazement and wonder at God's work in our lives and the world around us?

5. Reflect on a time when you were obedient to God's call. What was the outcome, and how did it affect your faith and the faith of others?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Acts 1:8
The man's proclamation in the Decapolis parallels the call for believers to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, emphasizing the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish regions.

Luke 8:39
This parallel account in Luke reinforces the importance of personal testimony in spreading the message of Jesus' transformative power.

Matthew 28:19-20
The Great Commission aligns with the man's actions, as he fulfills the call to make disciples and teach others about Jesus.

Sermons

A Man in Ruins	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:1-20
A Man with an Unclean Spirit	R. Green	Mark 5:1-20
Christ and the Demoniac	F. Wallace.	Mark 5:1-20
Christ, the Redeemer of the Intellect	E. Johnson	Mark 5:1-20
Demoniacal Possession	L. W. Bacon.	Mark 5:1-20
Eastern Tombs	R. Jamieson, D. D.	Mark 5:1-20
Gadarene or Gergesene Demoniacs	J.J. Given	Mark 5:1-20
Legion	A.F. Muir	Mark 5:1-20
Nature Sitting At the Feet of Jesus	J. Cumming, D. D.	Mark 5:1-20
Our Great Enemy	Bishop Wilson.	Mark 5:1-20
Power of Evil Spirits, and Power Over Them	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Mark 5:1-20
Sin and Salvation	The Pulpit Analyst	Mark 5:1-20
Sin Destructive	Sunday School Times	Mark 5:1-20
The Country of the Gadarenes	H. B. Hackett, D. D.	Mark 5:1-20
The Demoniac of Gadara	J. B.	Mark 5:1-20
The Demoniac of Gergesa	E. Stock.	Mark 5:1-20
The Evil Spirits	Bishop Wilberforce.	Mark 5:1-20
The Gadarene Demoniac	Congregational Pulpit	Mark 5:1-20
The Gadarene Demoniac	C. Gray.	Mark 5:1-20
The Tombs	Dean Mansel.	Mark 5:1-20
The Rejection and the Reception of Jesus	A. Rowland	Mark 5:17, 21
At the Feet of Jesus	J. Caroming, D. D.	Mark 5:18-20
Christ's Disinterestedness	Segneri.	Mark 5:18-20
Desire and Duty	A. Rowland	Mark 5:18-20
Going Home -- a Christmas Story	C. H. Spurgeon.	Mark 5:18-20
Home Piety a Proof of Real Religion	W. Jay.	Mark 5:18-20
Men Too Opaque to Let the Gospel Through Them	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
Personal Testimony Appreciated	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
Personal Testimony Hindered by the Fear of Subsequent Fai	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
Personal Testimony Permits Others to Share the Joys of the Christian Experience	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
The Apostle to the Gadarenes	L. W. Bacon.	Mark 5:18-20
The Gospel a Living Christ in Living Men	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
The Home Missionary	H. Phillips.	Mark 5:18-20
The Mission of the Saved	C. H. Spurgeon.	Mark 5:18-20
The Power of God Working Through Man Upon Men	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
The Power of Home in Regenerating Society	J. Cumming, D. D.	Mark 5:18-20
The Recovered Demoniac	S. Bridge, M. A.	Mark 5:18-20
The Refused Request	R. Glover.	Mark 5:18-20
The Restored Demoniac	J. Burns, D. D. , LL. D.	Mark 5:18-20
The Return of the Cured Demoniac	J. Cumming, D. D.	Mark 5:18-20
The Testimony of a Gospel Life Within the Reach of Every Variety of Talent	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
The Three Prayers	W. Jay.	Mark 5:18-20
The Unanswered Prayer	W. G. Barrett.	Mark 5:18-20
Witnessing for Christ	H. W. Beecher.	Mark 5:18-20
Work for Christ the Way to Retain the Vision of Him	J. Cumming, D. D.	Mark 5:18-20

People

Jair, Jairus, James, Jesus, John, Luke, Peter

Places

Decapolis, Galilee, Gerasa, Sea of Galilee

Topics

Amazed, Astonished, Decapolis, Decap'olis, Departed, Everywhere, Full, Marvel, Marveled, Marvelled, Proclaim, Public, Publicly, Publish, Related, Ten, Towns, Wonder, Wondered, Wondering

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Mark 5:20

5784 amazement

Mark 5:1-20

5285 cures
5333 healing

Mark 5:18-20

2351 Christ, miracles

Mark 5:19-20

2018 Christ, divinity

Library

September 12 Morning
I have seen his ways, and will heal him.--ISA. 57:18. I am the Lord that healeth thee. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.--Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.--All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Come now, and let us reason together, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Looks of Jesus
'And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.'--Mark v. 32. This Gospel of Mark is full of little touches that speak an eye-witness who had the gift of noting and reproducing vividly small details which make a scene live before us. Sometimes it is a word of description: 'There was much grass in the place.' Sometimes it is a note of Christ's demeanour: 'Looking up to heaven, He sighed.' Sometimes it is the very Aramaic words He spoke: 'Ephphatha.' Very often the Evangelist tells …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Lord of Demons
'And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3. Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4. Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5. And always, night and day, he …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Refused Bequest
'He that had been possessed with the devil prayed Jesus that he might be with Him. 19. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.'--Mark v. 18,19. There are three requests, singularly contrasted with each other, made to Christ in the course of this miracle of healing the Gadarene demoniac. The evil spirits ask to be permitted to go into the swine; the men of the country, caring more for their swine than their …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Talitha Cumi
And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, 23. And besought Him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray Thee, come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 24. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed Him, and thronged Him.... 35. While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Power of Feeble Faith
'And a certain woman ... 27. When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. 28. For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.'--Mark v. 25, 27, 28. In all the narratives of this miracle, it is embedded in the story of Jairus's daughter, which it cuts in twain. I suppose that the Evangelists felt, and would have us feel, the impression of calm consciousness of power and of leisurely dignity produced by Christ's having time to pause even on such an …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Touch or Faith?
If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.... Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole.'--Mark v. 28,34. I. The erroneous faith.--In general terms there is here an illustration of how intellectual error may coexist with sincere faith. The precise form of error is clearly that she looked on the physical contact with the material garment as the vehicle of healing--the very same thing which we find ever since running through the whole history of the Church, e.g. the exaltation of externals, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Going Home --A Christmas Sermon
Now, this teaches us a very important fact, namely, this, that true religion does not break in sunder the bonds of family relationship. True religion seldom encroaches upon that sacred, I had almost said divine institution called home; it does not separate men from their families, and make them aliens to their flesh and blood. Superstition has done that; an awful superstition, which calls itself Christianity, has sundered men from their kind; but true religion has never done so. Why, if I might be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Christ's Curate in Decapolis
"And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, God home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."--Mark v. 17-19. That is a striking name for a man, "he that had been possessed with the devil." It would stick to him as long as he lived, and it would be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

The General Observations are These.
There are in these relations proper circumstances of time and place, and the names and characters of persons. Of the miracle on Jairus's daughter, the time and place are sufficiently specified by St. Mark and St. Luke. It was soon after his crossing the sea of Galilee, after Jesus had cured the men possessed with devils in the country of the Gergesenes, Mark v. 21. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea. And behold …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

R. W. Begins his Fifth Discourse, P. 1, 2. With Saying, that He is Now
to take into examination the three miracles of Jesus's raising the dead, viz. of Jairus's daughter, Matth. ix. Mark. v. Luke viii. of the widow of Naim's son, Luke vii. and of Lazarus, John xi: the literal stories of which, he says, he shall shew to consist of absurdities, improbabilities, and incredibilities, in order to the mystical interpretation of them. I have read over his examination of these miracles, and am still of opinion, that the histories of them are credible. I. I will therefore first …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Conversion, Its Nature and Necessity.
Closely related to the doctrine of the power, or efficacy, of the divine Word--as considered in the last chapter--is the doctrine of conversion. It is the subject of conversion, therefore, that we now purpose to examine. It is an important subject. It deserves a prominent place in treating of the Way of Salvation. It is also an intensely personal subject. Each one who desires to be in the Way of Salvation is personally interested in it. The eternal destiny of every one who reads these pages is closely …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Third Continental Journey.
1833-4. PART II.--GREECE On the 21st of the Eleventh Month John and Martha Yeardley left Ancona, and had a safe but suffering voyage of two days to Corfu, the capital of the island of that name. The atmosphere in this place, writes J.Y., soon after they landed, is different from Ancona in every respect. It has to us a feeling of home, and our minds are clothed with peace and, I trust, gratitude to the Father of mercies. What we may find to do is yet a secret to us, but He who has brought us here …
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

The Legion Dispossessed. Mk 5:18,19
…
John Newton—Olney Hymns

Christian Cemeteries.
Sanctity of tombs guaranteed to all creeds alike.--The Christians' preference for underground cemeteries not due to fear at first.--Origin and cause of the first persecutions.--The attitude of Trajan towards the Christians, and its results.--The persecution of Diocletian.--The history of the early Christians illustrated by their graves.--The tombs of the first century.--The catacombs.--How they were named.--The security they offered against attack.--Their enormous extent.--Their gradual abandonment …
Rodolfo Lanciani—Pagan and Christian Rome

The Service Common to Two and Many Female Martyrs.
At the Vespers, for O Lord, I have cried, the Stichera, Tone 4. Similar to: Thou hast given a sign... The virgin-maidens, united by the law of nature and manifestly sustained by the love unto their Maker, were by faith freed from the ties of the body; the impotent enemy they have valiantly destroyed under their feet, became resplendently adorned with the honours of victors and are rejoicing having found their abode in the intellectual bridal chambers. The all-honoured have endured fire and multiformous …
Anonymous—The General Menaion

The Demoniac of Gadara
"And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. And always, night and day, in the tombs …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Men of Gadara
"And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with devils sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with devils, and concerning the swine. And they began to beseech Him to depart from their borders. And as He was entering into the …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

With Jairus
"And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto Him: and He was by the sea. And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing Him, he falleth at His feet, and beseecheth Him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray Thee that Thou come and lay Thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live. And He went with him; and a great multitude followed Him, and they thronged Him. And a …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods.
1. The mere fact of creation should lead us to acknowledge God, but to prevent our falling away to Gentile fictions, God has been pleased to furnish a history of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner? Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the same reason, the world was created, not in an instant, but in six days. The order of creation described, showing that Adam was not created until God had, with infinite goodness made ample provision for him. 3. The …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

How I Know God Answers Prayer
How I Know God Answers Prayer The Personal Testimony of One Life-Time By ROSALIND GOFORTH (Mrs. Jonathan Goforth) Missionary in China since 1888 "They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness."--Psalm 145:7. "Go . . . and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee."--Mark 5:19. HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON Copyright, 1921, by Harper & Brothers PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA …
Rosalind Goforth—How I Know God Answers Prayer

Synopsis. --Arbitrary Criticism of the Biblical Narratives of the Raising of the "Dead. " --Facts which it Ignores. --The Subject Related to the Phenomena of Trance
III SYNOPSIS.--Arbitrary criticism of the Biblical narratives of the raising of the "dead."--Facts which it ignores.--The subject related to the phenomena of trance, and records of premature burial.--The resuscitation in Elisha's tomb probably historical.--Jesus' raising of the ruler's daughter plainly a case of this kind.--His raising of the widow's son probably such.--The hypothesis that his raising of Lazarus may also have been such critically examined.--The record allows this supposition.--Further …
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Jesus Heals Two Gergesene Demoniacs.
(Gergesa, Now Called Khersa.) ^A Matt. VIII. 28-34; IX. 1; ^B Mark V. 1-21; ^C Luke VIII. 26-40. ^b 1 And they came to the other side of the sea [They left in the "even," an elastic expression. If they left in the middle of the afternoon and were driven forward by the storm, they would have reached the far shore several hours before dark], ^c 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee. ^a 28 And when he was come into the country of the Gadarenes. ^c 27 And …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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