Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. The crowd's investigation yields stunning discovery. "Then they went out to see what was done" (exēlthon de idein to gegonos, ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός) indicates curiosity mixed with skepticism—they needed to verify the swineherds' incredible report. "And came to Jesus" (ēlthon pros ton Iēsoun, ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν) shows they identified the source of this miracle.
"And found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus" (heuron kathēmenon ton anthrōpon aph' hou ta daimonia exēlthon para tous podas tou Iēsou, εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ' οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ)—the posture of a disciple learning from his master. Previously driven to wilderness tombs, he now sits peacefully at Jesus' feet. "Clothed" (himatismenon, ἱματισμένον) contrasts his former nakedness (v. 27)—dignity restored. "And in his right mind" (sōphronounta, σωφρονοῦντα) means sound-minded, self-controlled, sane—complete mental restoration from total fragmentation.
"And they were afraid" (ephobēthēsan, ἐφοβήθησαν) reveals mixed response. The transformation was too dramatic, too complete, too supernatural—fear of divine power overwhelmed them. They saw absolute proof of Jesus' authority over demons, yet rather than worship, they feared. This illustrates how witnessing God's power doesn't automatically produce faith—many respond with terror and desire for distance (v. 37) rather than trust and discipleship.
Historical Context
The phrase "sitting at the feet" was technical terminology for a disciple's relationship to his rabbi. Paul used identical language describing his training under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching (Luke 10:39). The posture symbolized submission, teachability, and the student-teacher relationship. That the formerly demon-possessed man assumed this position immediately after deliverance shows instantaneous transformation—from total chaos to ordered discipleship.
The crowd's fear reflects common first-century responses to supernatural power. Luke frequently records people's fear after miracles (Luke 1:12, 1:65, 2:9, 5:26, 7:16, 8:25). Fear (φόβος) can be either reverent awe leading to faith or terror leading to rejection. Here, the context suggests negative fear—verse 37 records they "besought him to depart from them." They preferred familiar economic stability over disturbing divine presence.
Early Christian writers noted the irony—the demoniac welcomed Jesus gladly, desiring to accompany Him (v. 38), while the townspeople who witnessed this stunning deliverance rejected Him. Origen observed that those most aware of their need (like the demoniac) embrace Christ, while those comfortable in sin (like the Gadarenes valuing swine over salvation) reject Him. This pattern continues—the gospel attracts the desperate while offending the self-sufficient.
Questions for Reflection
What does the demoniac's posture 'sitting at the feet of Jesus' teach about the proper response to deliverance and grace?
How does the crowd's fear despite witnessing undeniable transformation warn against equating miraculous evidence with saving faith?
What does the contrast between the demoniac's gratitude and the crowd's rejection reveal about human responses to Christ's power?
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Analysis & Commentary
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. The crowd's investigation yields stunning discovery. "Then they went out to see what was done" (exēlthon de idein to gegonos, ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός) indicates curiosity mixed with skepticism—they needed to verify the swineherds' incredible report. "And came to Jesus" (ēlthon pros ton Iēsoun, ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν) shows they identified the source of this miracle.
"And found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus" (heuron kathēmenon ton anthrōpon aph' hou ta daimonia exēlthon para tous podas tou Iēsou, εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ' οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ)—the posture of a disciple learning from his master. Previously driven to wilderness tombs, he now sits peacefully at Jesus' feet. "Clothed" (himatismenon, ἱματισμένον) contrasts his former nakedness (v. 27)—dignity restored. "And in his right mind" (sōphronounta, σωφρονοῦντα) means sound-minded, self-controlled, sane—complete mental restoration from total fragmentation.
"And they were afraid" (ephobēthēsan, ἐφοβήθησαν) reveals mixed response. The transformation was too dramatic, too complete, too supernatural—fear of divine power overwhelmed them. They saw absolute proof of Jesus' authority over demons, yet rather than worship, they feared. This illustrates how witnessing God's power doesn't automatically produce faith—many respond with terror and desire for distance (v. 37) rather than trust and discipleship.