Pigs, given plenty of room in cool weather, are clean animals. Stre
ssed by heat and crowded conditions, they don't do as
well. The Jews saw pigs as unclean animals and did not eat pork.But the Roman troops that occupied Palestine had used preserved pork - especially bacon - as survival food for generations. So pigs were raised in Palestine for the Roman occupiers.
A legion is the basic unit of the Roman army, containing between 3000 and 6000 foot soldiers, supported by cavalry.
This story may take place in the Decapolis, the region east of Galilee, across the Jordan River.
1. How had the man in the story been living?
[The man had been living naked among the tombs of the dead people.]
2. What did the man tell Jesus his name was?
[The man said his name was Legion.]
3. What did the demons ask Jesus to do?
[The demons asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs.]
4. What did the people ask Jesus to do?
[The people asked Jesus to leave.]
5. What did Jesus do?
[Jesus got into the boat and left.]