Mark 5:14 Meaning: When the News Spreads
Those who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.
And those feeding the swine did flee, and told in the city, and in the fields, and they came forth to see what it is that hath been done;
And those that were feeding them fled and reported it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had taken place.
Meaning in one sentence
Why Mark 5:14 matters: the herdsmen's report and the crowd's response reveal how people react when God's power disrupts ordinary life.
Context
Jesus has just crossed the Sea of Galilee with his disciples and stepped into Gentile territory. A man possessed by a legion of demons meets him, and in a single command Jesus sends the spirits into a herd of about two thousand pigs. The animals rush down the slope and drown. The herdsmen who watched this happen do not wait around. They run straight to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside to tell everyone what they saw. News this strange travels fast. Soon people stream out of town to see for themselves what Jesus has done.
Key Words
The Greek word for the herdsmen’s response is ephugon, they fled. It carries the sense of seeking safety, escaping a scene that terrified them. These were men who worked with pigs day in and day out, yet what they witnessed sent them running. When God’s power breaks in, even the hardened can be shaken.
The word for what they did next is apēggeilan: they announced it, proclaimed it openly. It is the same word used elsewhere in the New Testament for preaching the good news. Here it carries a report of raw fear and astonishment.
And when the townspeople came out, the text says they came idein, to see, to perceive with their own eyes. This is not casual looking. It means they wanted to understand, to grasp what had happened. Sometimes hearing a report is not enough. We need to go and see for ourselves.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse from different angles. Some note that the herdsmen’s flight and report place the miracle squarely in the public domain. The news could not be suppressed. Others focus on the crowd’s decision to come out, fear and curiosity mixed together. Reformed writers like Matthew Henry see the people’s arrival as the beginning of a test: would they recognise God’s work, or would they ask Jesus to leave? Across traditions, readers agree that the verse shows how divine power forces a response. The question is never whether God acted, but how we will react when we hear about it.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the crowd came out only to see the drowned pigs, curious about a strange accident. In fact, the verse leads directly into verse 15, where the people find the formerly demon-possessed man sitting, clothed, and in his right mind. The miracle they came to see was a person restored, not a spectacle. The pigs were the story they heard. The man was the story they saw.
Living This Out
Think of a moment this week when you heard news of God at work, maybe a prayer answered, someone changed. Did you stay where you were, or did you go see it with your own eyes? The herdsmen ran to tell. The townspeople ran to look. You can do both. If someone tells you God is moving, don’t just nod. Go find out. Ask questions. Show up. The news is worth the trip.
Main takeaway: When God’s power disrupts ordinary life, the news spreads, and we must decide whether to run toward it or stay away.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The men who took care of the pigs saw something amazing and ran to tell everyone. The people went to see Jesus. When you hear something good about Jesus, you can go see too.
For ages 9, 12
The herdsmen had a job to do, but what they saw was so big they dropped everything and ran to tell the whole town. The townspeople didn’t just shrug, they went out to see for themselves. Sometimes God does something so surprising you have to stop what you’re doing and pay attention. The question is: will you go see, or will you stay home?
Questions People Ask
Why did the herdsmen flee instead of staying to help?
They were terrified. They had just watched two thousand pigs drown at once after a naked, violent man suddenly became calm and quiet. Nothing in their experience prepared them for this. Flight was their survival instinct kicking in. Later they told the story, so they did not simply disappear, they spread the news.
Was this region Jewish or Gentile, and why does it matter?
The Gadarene region was largely Gentile territory. That is why there was a herd of pigs, Jews did not raise pigs. Jesus stepping into Gentile land and freeing a man there shows that his power is not only for Israel. The miracle happened outside the usual boundaries of faith.
Why did Jesus let the demons enter the pigs?
Jesus gave permission, but the text does not explain his reasons. It shows that the demons had no power except what Jesus allowed. The destruction of the herd also made the miracle visible and undeniable. People could not ignore what happened when they saw the empty hill and the drowned pigs.
What does this verse teach us about spreading the gospel?
The herdsmen told the news even though they were afraid. They did not have a sermon prepared. They simply reported what they had seen. That is often enough. Telling what God has done in your life, even when it is strange or scary, can draw others to come and see for themselves.
Did the people who came out believe in Jesus afterwards?
Not at first. In verse 17 they begged Jesus to leave. They saw the healed man, but they also saw the economic loss, and fear won. Coming to see does not guarantee faith. It only opens the door. Some walk through; others turn back.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study