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As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
Mark 5:18 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
  • BSB As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.
  • NKJV And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
  • NASB And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him.
  • NLT As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The delivered man begs to stay with Jesus as he prepares to leave.

Overview

In contrast to the townspeople, the restored man longs to remain with his deliverer. His desire reflects the natural response of a heart transformed by grace, to be near Christ. This sets up Jesus' commission to send him out as a witness instead.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 7

  • Luke 8:38–39But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
  • Phil 1:23–24But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
  • Mark 5:17They began to beg him to depart from their region.
  • Ps 116:12What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me?
  • Luke 23:42–43He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
  • Mark 5:7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
  • Luke 17:15–17One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Mark videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Mark 5:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MarkMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

How Mark 5:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.