Matt. 8 Matt. 8:2–4 Christ cleanseth the leper, Matt. 8:5–13 healeth the centurion’s servant, Matt. 8:14–15 Peter’s mother-in-law, Matt. 8:16–17 and many other diseased, Matt. 8:18–22 showeth how he is to be followed, Matt. 8:23–27 stilleth the tempest on the sea, Matt.

We heard of Christ’s going up into the mountain, Matt. 6:1; and of great multitudes that followed him from Decapolis, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from beyond Jordan: whether the same multitude, or others, followed him upon his coming down, is not said.

By the law of God, Lev. 5:3, he that touched another who was unclean (as the leper was, Lev. 13—14) was unclean; how then doth Christ (who was subject to the law) touch the leper? Some say he did not touch the unclean leper, but him that was a leper, and by his touch made clean.

Some think that our Saviour only commanded him silence until he had showed himself unto the priest, and he, according to the law, Lev. 13, should have pronounced him clean, lest their envy upon hearing of it should have caused them to have obscured the miracle, by delaying to pronounce him clean;…

Many think that this story was in order before the other. It is related by Luke 7:1–9, with some larger circumstances: there is only this difference between the two evangelists; Matthew seems to speak as if the centurion at first came in person to him; Luke saith, that he first sent the elders of…

That is, in short, many of those who are now heathens shall be saved; and many of the Jews shall be damned. Many, not all, shall come from the east and west, from all parts, from the remotest parts in the world. Luke saith, east, west, north, and south, Luke 13:29, Isa. 11:12, Isa. 43:5–6.

Luke saith, And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick, Luke 7:10; so as it seemeth that what Christ said unto the centurion, must be interpreted, to those whom the centurion sent in his name.

This story is related, with some further circumstances, Mark 1:29–31, Luke 4:38–39. Mark tells us it was the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John; ( it seems they lived there together); that they told him of her sickness, after he had been there some time; that he took her by the hand,…

Mark hath much the same Mark 1:32–34, Luke 4:40–41. Luke adds, he laid his hands upon them, and healed them. We before, Matt. 4:24, showed who were meant by persons possessed by devils. See Poole on “Matt. 4:24”.

When Jesus did these things before mentioned, he was in Capernaum, Matt. 8:5; but the multitudes pressing him, he gave order to pass over the sea of Galilee, otherwise called the sea of Tiberias, John 6:1.

We have the same story in Luke 9:57–58; only Luke saith it was as they went in the way; and saith, a certain man thus said unto him. Matthew more particularly describeth the man from his office, or ordinary employment.

Luke repeating the same history, Luke 9:59–60, saith that Christ said to this man, Follow me. He replies, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father; to live at home with my father, who is an old man, till I have performed my last filial office to him in burying him.

It is apparent that the evangelists did not set down all the motions and actions of our Saviour in order, as done by him: whether therefore this was the same motion, and over the same sea, of which mention was made before, is uncertain, nor much material for us to know.

This history is related by Mark 5:1;c. and by Luke 8:26;c., more largely than by Matthew. The other two evangelists report it to be done in the country of the Gadarenes; Matthew, in the country of the Gergesenes; they were the same people, sometimes denominated from one great city in their…

Mark saith, Mark 5:8, that Jesus first said to him, Come out of the man; and, Mark 5:6–7, when he saw Jesus afar off he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee, that thou torment me not.

Both Mark and Luke interpose here something more. Mark saith, And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many. Luke saith, And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Mark gives us much the same account, Mark 5:13, only adding, they were about two thousand. Luke differeth not, only what Matthew calls a sea Luke calls a lake; but the Jews called all great gatherings together of waters seas.

Mark and Luke in this differ not from Matthew, only they add, that they told it in the city and country. Those that most serve the devil are afraid of him when he cometh to show himself in his true colours.

Both Mark and Luke here add much. Mark saith, Mark 5:14–20, And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the Legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.