Bible Commentaries

They arrived on the other side. After the storm. The territory of the Gerasenes. Also known as the territory of the Gadarenes. Gerasa was the village where Jesus landed after the storm. Gadara, an important city, was seven or eight miles to the south. The whole area took its name from these cities.

He was met by a man. The burial caves are still seen in the cliff near Gersa (the more recent name for Gerasa). For notes on demons, see Matthew 4:24.

Lived among the graves. The graves were caves in the rock, either natural or Matthew 9:18.

Very sick. Mark 5:35).

There was a woman. See notes on Matthew 9:20-22. This miracle took place as they were going to the house of Jairus.

By many doctors. This woman had spent all her money trying to get well, but without success. Probably the "doctors" would depend on "magical charms" and "incantations" to try to produce a cure.

At once Jesus knew. Christ was aware of the woman and deliberately healed her as she touched him. What he says is to bring out the lesson. His question asks for her declaration of faith. This woman's faith caused her to Matthew 9:23).

Talitha, koum. He said this in the dialect of the people. He orders her to "get up."

She got up at once. When Jesus healed, it was complete. She is awakened from death, and her illness is gone!

Not to tell anyone. Jesus had a work to do before the climax of the Cross. His fame must not spread too quickly. Things must be prepared. In addition to his own raising from death, Jesus rescued three from the grasp of death. Here, it is a girl who has just died. The widow's son at Nain (Luke 7:11-15) had been dead at least twenty-four hours. Lazarus ( John 11) had been dead more than four days. Note also: the girl was raised privately; the widow's son publicly; and Lazarus, in the presence of bitter enemies.