Mark 5:1

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 5:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.
Mark 5:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, etc..] Of Galilee, or Tiberias; into the country of the Gadarenes: in the Evangelist Matthew it is called, “the country of the Gergesenes”, as it is here in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions. The Vulgate Latin reads, “of the Gerasenes”, and so some copies, from Gerasa, a place in the same country; but the Syriac and Persic versions read, “Gadarenes”, as do most copies; so called from Gadara, a city either adjacent to, or within the country of the Gergesenes; which was called by both names, from these different places. It was not far from Tiberias, the place from whence this sea has its name, over which Christ and his disciples passed,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“HEROD THINKS JESUS A RESURRECTION OF THE MURDERED BAPTIST--ACCOUNT OF HIS DEATH. ( = Mat 14:1-12; Luk 9:7-9). (Mark 6:14-29) And King Herod--that is, Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Mat 2:22), who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea. heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad); and he said--"unto his servants" (Mat 14:2), his councillors or court ministers. That John the Baptist was risen from the dead--The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter, and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers, in the person of Jesus.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this account of the demoniacs fully explained in the notes at Matthew 8:28-34. Mark 5:4 He had been often bound with fetters and chains - Efforts had been made to confine him, but his great strength - his strength increased by his malady - had prevented it. There often appears to be a great increase of strength produced by insanity, and what is here stated in regard to this maniac often occurs in Palestine and elsewhere now. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 213) says respecting this case: “There are some very similar at the present day - furious and dangerous maniacs, who wander about the mountains, and sleep in tombs and caves. In their worst paroxysms they are quite…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Mat 8:28; Luk 8:26. Mark 5:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“5:1-20 Jesus and the disciples arrived at the other side of the lake, completing the journey begun in 4:35. As in 1:21-28 and 3:11, the demons truly recognized (1:34) that Jesus was the Son of the Most High God. For the first time in the Gospel of Mark, a Gentile was the recipient of Jesus’ healing ministry (see study note on 5:10-13; cp. 7:24-30). 5:1 The region of the Gerasenes: Textual and geographical problems make the exact location uncertain. Manuscript evidence supports Gerasa, a city in this region located thirty-seven miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee (5:13). Some manuscripts read “Gadarenes”; Gadara was five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee. A few manuscripts read…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Mar 4:35; Mat 8:28-34; Luk 8:26-39 Mark 5:2”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification