^5:18As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go²⁴ with him. ^5:19But²⁵ Jesus²⁶ did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you,²⁷ that he had mercy on you.” ^5:20So²⁸ he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis²⁹ what Jesus had done for him,³⁰ and all were amazed.

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Footnotes

24 Grk “be,” that is, “remain.” In this context that would involve accompanying Jesus as he went on his way.
25 Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
26 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
27 Jesus instructs the man to declare what the Lord has done for him, in contrast to the usual instructions (e.g., 1:44; 5:43) to remain silent. Here in Gentile territory Jesus allowed more open discussion of his ministry. D. L. Bock (Luke [], 1:) suggests that with few Jewish religious representatives present, there would be less danger of misunderstanding Jesus’ ministry as political.
28 Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “So” to indicate the conclusion of the episode in the narrative.
29 The Decapolis refers to a league of towns (originally consisting of ten; the Greek name literally means “ten towns”) whose region (except for Scythopolis) lay across the Jordan River.
30 Note that the man could not separate what God had done from the one through whom God had done it (what Jesus had done for him). This man was called to witness to God’s goodness at home.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged him earnestly that he might remain with him. Jesus did not let him but told him, “Go home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” So he went out and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

NLTNew Living Translation

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed began to implore him that he could go with him. And he did not permit him, but said to him, “Go to your home to your people and tell them all that the Lord has done for you, and that he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and they were all astonished.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

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