Luke 8:28

KJV

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

KJV (with Strong's)

When {G1161} he saw {G1492} Jesus {G2424}, he cried out {G349}, and {G2532} fell down before {G4363} him {G846}, and {G2532} with a loud {G3173} voice {G5456} said {G2036}, What {G5101} have I {G1698} to do with {G2532} thee {G4671}, Jesus {G2424}, thou Son {G5207} of God {G2316} most high {G5310}? I beseech {G1189} thee {G4675}, torment {G928} me {G3165} not {G3361}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Catching sight of Yeshua, he screamed, fell down in front of him and yelled, "Yeshua! Son of God Ha`Elyon! What do you want with me? I beg you, don't torture me!"

Berean Standard Bible

When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

American Standard Version

And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:28 captures the dramatic moment when a man possessed by a "legion" of demons confronts Jesus, immediately recognizing His divine authority. This verse records the demons' desperate cry, their prostration before Him, and their fervent plea for Jesus not to torment them, revealing their acute awareness of His identity as the "Son of God most high" and their impending judgment. It powerfully underscores Jesus' absolute sovereignty over all spiritual forces, even the most formidable.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Luke's account of Jesus' Galilean ministry, specifically following His calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Having demonstrated His authority over creation, Jesus now demonstrates His unparalleled power over spiritual forces. The narrative immediately preceding describes the man's horrific condition: living naked among tombs, uncontrollable by chains, and tormented by numerous demons. This sets the stage for the demons' fearful and immediate reaction upon seeing Jesus, as recorded in [Luke 8:28](/luke/8-28 "Luke 8:28 - Demonic Recognition of Jesus' Authority"). The subsequent verses detail Jesus' command for the demons to depart, their request to enter a herd of pigs, and the subsequent casting out, leading to the man's complete restoration and the local community's bewildered response.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The event takes place in the "country of the Gerasenes" (or Gadarenes/Gergesenes in parallel accounts), a region predominantly Gentile, located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. This area was known for its swineherding, an occupation forbidden to Jews, further highlighting the Gentile setting. In the ancient world, demonic possession was a recognized, albeit terrifying, phenomenon, often associated with madness, physical affliction, and social ostracism. People believed in a hierarchy of spiritual beings, both good and evil, and the idea of powerful evil spirits was deeply ingrained. The demons' immediate recognition of Jesus as "Son of God most high" reflects a common belief that supernatural beings possessed knowledge beyond human understanding, especially concerning divine identity and authority.

* **Key Themes:** This encounter powerfully contributes to several key themes in Luke's Gospel. Firstly, it emphatically highlights [Jesus' supreme authority](/luke/4-36 "Luke 4:36 - Jesus' Authority Over Unclean Spirits") over all spiritual forces, demonstrating His power to confront and conquer evil, a stark contrast to the inability of humans to control the demoniac. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **demonic recognition of Jesus' identity**; unlike many humans who struggled to grasp who Jesus was, the demons instantly knew Him as the "Son of God most high," affirming His divine nature and supreme position. This involuntary confession from the forces of evil lends undeniable weight to Jesus' true identity. Thirdly, the demons' plea to "torment me not" introduces the theme of **judgment and eschatological awareness**, revealing their knowledge of an appointed time of ultimate confinement and punishment, a fate that Jesus, as the Son of God, has the authority to enact. This prefigures the ultimate defeat of evil, a theme woven throughout the New Testament, culminating in passages like [Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - The Devil Cast into the Lake of Fire").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cried out (Greek, _anakrázō'_):** This verb signifies to "scream up aloud," indicating a sudden, piercing, and forceful vocalization. It conveys the immediate and intense fear, desperation, and perhaps even a desperate, involuntary confession from the demons. It's not a calm statement but an outburst of terror and recognition.
* **fell down before (Greek, _prospíptō'_):** This word means "to fall towards," implying prostration in supplication or homage. While often associated with worship, here it denotes an act of involuntary submission and acknowledgment of superior power, driven by fear rather than devotion. The demons, despite their malevolent nature, are compelled to acknowledge Jesus' authority by falling before Him.
* **torment (Greek, _basanízō'_):** Derived from a word for a "touchstone" used to test metals, this term literally means "to torture." In this context, it refers to severe suffering, pain, or vexation. The demons' plea reveals their acute awareness of the impending judgment and the suffering that awaits them, which Jesus, as the Son of God, has the power to inflict.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him":** This phrase immediately establishes the demons' recognition and fearful reaction. The "he" refers to the demon-possessed man, but it is the demons within him who perceive Jesus and react. Their "crying out" and "falling down" are not acts of worship but of involuntary submission to a superior, divine power they cannot resist. It speaks to the overwhelming presence and authority of Jesus.
* **"and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of God most high?":** The "loud voice" emphasizes the urgency and intensity of their address. The idiom "What have I to do with thee?" (Greek: _ti emoi kai soi_) is an expression of strong disassociation, a desperate plea for non-interference. It conveys the demons' desire for Jesus not to intervene with their current activities or bring about their immediate judgment. Their confession of Jesus as "Son of God most high" is a profound, albeit forced, theological declaration, acknowledging His unique divine relationship and supreme authority. This title, _huios tou Theou tou hupsistou_, is a powerful affirmation of Jesus' deity.
* **"I beseech thee, torment me not.":** This final clause is a direct, desperate appeal from the demons. The verb "beseech" (Greek: _déomai_) indicates a fervent request, born out of a sense of being bound or obligated. Their fear of "torment" (Greek: _basanízō_) reveals their awareness of a destined punishment and their desire to postpone it. They know Jesus possesses the authority to cast them into the abyss, a place of confinement and suffering, and they plead for a reprieve.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's account masterfully employs several literary devices. The **dramatic irony** is palpable: while many human characters struggle to comprehend Jesus' identity, the malevolent spirits immediately recognize and confess Him as the "Son of God most high." This serves to underscore Jesus' undeniable divinity. The **hyperbole** of "Legion" (mentioned in the broader passage, but implied by the man's uncontrollable state and the subsequent number of pigs) vividly conveys the overwhelming number and power of the demons, making Jesus' effortless expulsion of them even more impressive. The **contrast** between the man's former wild, uncontrollable state and his immediate, fearful prostration before Jesus highlights Jesus' absolute authority. The demons' "loud voice" and "crying out" also serve as **auditory imagery**, emphasizing the chaotic and terrifying nature of the encounter, only to be subdued by Jesus' calm command.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This encounter in Luke 8:28 profoundly reveals the nature of spiritual warfare and Jesus' absolute supremacy within it. The demons, despite their power to torment and control, are utterly subject to Jesus. Their immediate recognition of His divine identity and their desperate plea for mercy underscore that even the forces of evil are aware of God's ultimate authority and their impending judgment. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that no spiritual opposition, however formidable, can stand against the Lord Jesus Christ, offering immense comfort and assurance to believers facing any form of spiritual oppression. It also highlights the reality of a spiritual realm and the active presence of evil, yet always subservient to Christ's sovereign will.

* [Mark 1:24](/mark/1-24 "Mark 1:24 - Demonic Recognition in Capernaum"): "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
* [James 2:19](/james/2-19 "James 2:19 - Demons Believe and Tremble"): "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
* [Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow"): "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 8:28 offers profound insights into the spiritual realities we face and the unwavering authority of our Lord. It reassures us that no force, seen or unseen, can stand against the power of Jesus Christ. For those who feel overwhelmed by spiritual oppression, addiction, or despair, this narrative serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating Jesus' unparalleled ability to deliver, heal, and restore. It challenges us to consider if our own understanding and confession of Jesus' identity match the involuntary, fearful recognition of the demons. If even they, the embodiment of evil, acknowledge Him as "Son of God most high," how much more should we, who are called to worship and follow Him, fully embrace and proclaim His supreme sovereignty in every area of our lives. This passage calls us to a deeper trust in Christ's power and a clearer understanding of the spiritual battle, knowing that victory is always His.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I need to more fully acknowledge Jesus' absolute authority?**
* **How does the demons' immediate recognition of Jesus' identity challenge or deepen my own faith?**
* **What specific "torments" or oppressions in my life or the lives of those I know can I bring before Jesus, trusting in His power to deliver?**

### FAQ
**Why do the demons immediately recognize Jesus, while many humans do not?**

Answer: The biblical narrative consistently portrays spiritual beings, both good and evil, as possessing a knowledge of divine realities that often surpasses human understanding. Demons, as fallen angels, have direct experience of God's power and authority, even if they rebel against it. Their recognition of Jesus as the "Son of God most high" is not an act of faith or worship, but a compelled acknowledgment born of their innate awareness of His divine nature and the threat He poses to their dark dominion. Humans, in contrast, often come to faith through revelation, personal experience, and the work of the Holy Spirit, and their understanding can be hindered by sin, pride, or spiritual blindness, as seen in [John 12:40](/john/12-40 "John 12:40 - Blinded Eyes, Hardened Hearts").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 8:28, though a dramatic encounter with demonic forces, points profoundly to the person and work of Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfiller of God's redemptive plan. The demons' forced confession of Jesus as the "Son of God most high" foreshadows the universal acknowledgment of His sovereignty that will occur at the end of time, as described in [Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow Before Jesus"). This event is not merely an isolated miracle but a powerful demonstration of Christ's authority over all spiritual powers, an authority that culminates in His victory over sin and death on the cross, as celebrated in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"). The demons' fear of "torment" anticipates the final judgment where Christ, as the righteous judge, will cast all evil into eternal punishment, securing ultimate freedom for His people, a promise echoed in [Revelation 20:10](/revelation/20-10 "Revelation 20:10 - The Devil's Final Doom"). Thus, this encounter in Luke serves as a vivid preview of Christ's triumph over every opposing force, establishing Him as the Redeemer who delivers humanity from the dominion of darkness and brings us into His glorious kingdom, a truth central to the Gospel message found in [Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness into Light").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:29

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

2 Peter 2:4

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Isaiah 27:1

¶ In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that [is] in the sea.

Luke 8:37

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Luke 8:38

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

James 2:19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Acts 16:16

¶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: