And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. Was it the owners only of the valuable property now lost to them that did this? Alas, no! For Luke (Luke 8:37) says, "Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; because they were taken [or 'seized' - suneichonto (G4912)] with great fear" The evil spirits had thus, alas! their object. Irritated, the people could not suffer His presence; yet awestruck, they dared not order Him off: so they entreat Him to withdraw, and-He takes them at their word.