Luke 8:29

Luke 8:29, in plain English

Jesus had been commanding the evil spirit to come out. The man had been seized many times, and even chains and shackles could not hold him. The demon kept driving him into lonely places.

Why it's here

This background reveals just how desperate the situation was. Human solutions had failed completely. Chains could not hold him and people could not help him. Only Jesus had the authority to set him free.

Who's speaking

Luke explains the man's history of possession and bondage.

Where it sits in the story

The community had tried everything: chains, shackles, restraints. Nothing worked. The demons kept seizing the man and driving him into the wilderness. He was beyond human help, but not beyond Jesus'.

The scholarly reading

Luke provides background: Jesus had been commanding (parēngellen, imperfect tense indicating repeated commands) the unclean spirit to exit. The man's superhuman strength in breaking halysesin kai pedais ('chains and shackles') demonstrates the demons' power, while his being driven into erēmous topous ('desolate places') shows their destructive intent.

Language and setting

The parenthetical explanation clarifies the sequence of events and emphasizes both the severity of the possession and the futility of human restraint. The imperfect tense suggests an ongoing exorcism process rather than an instantaneous command.

Voice

Luke provides explanatory narration about the man's history and Jesus' ongoing command.

Significance

Jesus had been commanding the unclean spirit to leave the man, who despite being bound with chains and shackles had broken free repeatedly, driven by the demons into isolated wilderness areas.

27When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.

28When 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!”

29For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

31And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

Read all of Luke 8 — A storm, a legion of demons, a bleeding woman, and a dead girl — Jesus moves through a world of chaos and brings order with a word or a touch.