Lukas 8:32

8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, ¹  and the demonic spirits ²  begged Jesus ³  to let them go into them. He gave them permission. ⁴ 

[8:32]  ¹ tn Grk “mountain,” but this might give the English reader the impression of a far higher summit.

[8:32]  ² tn Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ⁴ sn Many have discussed why Jesus gave them permission, since the animals were destroyed. However, this is another example of a miracle that is a visual lesson. The demons are destructive: They were destroying the man. They destroyed the pigs. They destroy whatever they touch. The point was to take demonic influence seriously, as well as Jesus’ power over it as a picture of the larger battle for human souls. There would be no doubt how the man’s transformation had taken place.