When the Stories Don’t Seem to Match: A Closer Look at Jesus Healing the Demoniac

The Bible Reading Crisis

According to LifeWay Research, most Americans own a Bible—but few actually read it. In one study, only 24 percent of adults reported reading Scripture weekly outside of church.¹ Another survey found that just one in three Protestant churchgoers reads the Bible daily.²

That means many people form opinions about Scripture without actually spending time in it.
So when someone says, “The Bible is full of contradictions,” it’s often based on what they’ve heard, not what they’ve read.

And yet, if we never open the Bible ourselves, how can we tell whether the contradictions are real—or only apparent?

One of the most commonly cited examples comes from the Gospels: the story of Jesus healing the demon-possessed man (or men) near the Sea of Galilee.

The Story That Raises Questions

Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, and Luke 8:26-39 all describe this dramatic moment when Jesus confronts demonic power. But on the surface, their details don’t line up perfectly:

1. Location difference – Matthew says the miracle happened in the region of the Gadarenes; Mark and Luke call it the region of the Gerasenes.
2. Number difference – Matthew describes two demon-possessed men, while Mark and Luke mention only one.
3. Distance debate – Skeptics argue that the towns mentioned are too far from water for pigs to rush into the sea.³

For some readers, these differences appear to be proof that the Bible can’t be trusted. But let’s take a closer look.

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1. When Names Don’t Match: Gadara or Gerasa?

Ancient geography wasn’t as precise as Google Maps. Both Gadara and Gerasa were cities in the same general region east of the Sea of Galilee, an area under the control of the Decapolis (a group of ten Greek-influenced cities).

In ancient writing, it was common to describe a place by its region rather than its exact coordinates.
So Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all describing the same general area using different local references.

Think of how we talk about locations today. Someone might say they’re “from Jamestown,” another says “between High Point and Greensboro,” and a third says “from the Piedmont.” Same area—different emphasis.

As the ESV Study Bible notes, while Gerasa (modern Jerash) was about 30 miles from the Sea of Galilee, Gadara lay only about six miles away, and both names could describe the broader region. Archaeological evidence also reveals smaller coastal villages bearing these names, showing the text’s geography makes perfect sense in the first-century world.⁴

Far from disproving Scripture, such discoveries consistently demonstrate that the biblical authors were accurate reporters of real places and events, even when modern readers initially misunderstand their terminology.⁵

2. When Numbers Don’t Match: One or Two Men?

Matthew writes about two men possessed by demons. Mark and Luke focus on one man. Does that mean they contradict each other? Not at all.

Imagine you witness two people rescued from a burning building, but one man’s story is especially dramatic. Later, you tell the story by focusing on that one man’s encounter. Are you contradicting yourself? No—you’re emphasizing one perspective.

That’s exactly what’s happening in the Gospels. Matthew mentions both because he’s providing a fuller count and to highlight the trustworthiness of this exorcisim to his Jewish audience (Deuteronomy 19:15). Mark and Luke highlight the man who became a public witness afterward—the one who begged to follow Jesus and was sent home to tell his story (Mark 5:18-20).

As GotQuestions.org explains:

“The Gospel writers often recorded only the details relevant to their purpose. A difference in detail does not equal a contradiction.”⁶

Each writer is being truthful, but each is selective. That’s not dishonesty—that’s good storytelling with a purpose under divine inspiration.

3. When Distance Seems Impossible

Critics once argued that the Gospel writers erred because Gerasa (modern Jerash) lies about 30 miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee—too far for a herd of pigs to rush into the water as described in the text.⁷ However, later archaeological findings and historical geography studies have shown that smaller coastal villages bearing the same name existed closer to the lake.⁸ This evidence supports the conclusion that the Gospel writers were describing the broader region—the territory of the Gerasenes—not necessarily the city proper.⁹

Far from disproving Scripture, such discoveries consistently demonstrate that the biblical authors were accurate observers of real places and events, even when modern readers initially misunderstand their terminology.¹⁰

4. Why These Differences Actually Strengthen the Gospels

If all three Gospel accounts were word-for-word identical, skeptics would accuse them of collusion.
Instead, their differences prove that the writers were independent witnesses, not copycats. Their unity of message—Jesus’ authority over evil—stands out even amid varied detail.

This is exactly how eyewitness testimony works. Police investigators actually become suspicious when every witness gives the same story verbatim—it usually means they rehearsed it together.

So the small differences in the Gospels reflect authentic diversity rather than contradiction.

5. What the Story Teaches Us

Beyond defending Scripture, the story reveals something stunning about Jesus:
He commands spiritual powers with a single word.
No one—human or demonic—can resist His authority.
Even the demons begged Him for permission before leaving the men.

The townspeople’s reaction, however, is sobering.
Rather than rejoicing at freedom and restoration, they asked Jesus to leave.
Sometimes people would rather keep their comfort than confront Christ’s power.

When we face things in Scripture that make us uncomfortable or confused, will we also ask Him to leave—or will we stay and learn from Him?

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6. How to Respond When You Encounter “Contradictions”

When you—or someone you know—struggles with passages like this, here’s a healthy way forward:

1. Don’t panic. The Bible has been studied for thousands of years; your question isn’t new.
2. Ask honestly. God is not threatened by sincere questions (Acts 17:11).
3. Check context. Who is speaking, to whom, and for what purpose?
4. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Parallel passages often clarify, not confuse.
5. Read with humility. God’s Word is perfect; our understanding is not.

As GotQuestions summarizes, *“When all the facts are known, the Scriptures will be shown to be without error.”*¹¹

7. From Reading Less to Trusting More

If LifeWay’s research is right, the crisis isn’t that the Bible contradicts itself—it’s that we don’t read it long enough to find out how consistent it really is. Regular Bible reading builds not just knowledge, but trust.

So start small.
Pick a Gospel.
Read the story of the demoniac in Matthew, Mark, and Luke side by side.
Notice what’s similar.
Notice what’s different.
Then ask: what do these accounts together tell me about Jesus?

You’ll discover not confusion—but confidence.
Not contradiction—but clarity.
And not an empty book—but a living Word that drives out darkness with light.

If you need a plan or resource to help you begin reading the Bible for yourself, check out our >SM Journals or do a quick online search for “How to read my Bible” or “Free Bible Reading Plans.”

Reflection Questions

1. When you read two passages that seem to differ, what’s your first reaction—doubt or curiosity?
2. How might comparing Gospel accounts actually increase your confidence in Scripture?
3. What step could you take this week to build a more consistent Bible-reading habit?
4. How does Jesus’ authority over demons encourage you in your own spiritual battles?

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Footnotes

1. LifeWay Research, Scripture-Engaged: Who Are American Bible Readers? (April 2023), lifewayresearch.com.
2. LifeWay Research, Few Protestant Churchgoers Read the Bible Daily (July 2019), lifewayresearch.com.
3. John N. Oswalt, The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003), introductory note on historical skepticism.
4. ESV Study Bible (Crossway, 2008), note on Matthew 8:28–34.
5. Edwin M. Yamauchi, The Stones and the Scriptures (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1972), pp. 21–22.
6. “Are There Errors in the Bible?” GotQuestions.org, accessed November 2025, https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-errors.html.
7. ESV Study Bible, note on Matthew 8:28–34.
8. Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014), p. 68.
9. D. A. Carson, Matthew, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), p. 216.
10. Edwin M. Yamauchi, The Stones and the Scriptures, pp. 21–22.
11. “Are There Errors in the Bible?” GotQuestions.org.