Definition and Background:

The term "Legion" in the Bible refers to a large number or multitude, specifically used in the context of demonic possession. The word itself is derived from the Latin "legio," which was a unit of the Roman army consisting of approximately 6,000 soldiers. In the New Testament, "Legion" is used to describe the multitude of demons possessing a man in the region of the Gerasenes.

Biblical References:

The primary account of Legion is found in the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, and Luke 8:26-39. The most detailed account is in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 5:1-20 :

In Mark's account, Jesus and His disciples arrive at the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat, He is met by a man with an unclean spirit who lived among the tombs. This man was so violent that no one could bind him, not even with chains. Night and day, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him, shouting, "What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torment me!" Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Jesus then asked, "What is your name?" The spirit replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many" (Mark 5:9).

The demons begged Jesus not to send them out of the region. Instead, they requested to be sent into a herd of pigs nearby. Jesus granted their request, and the unclean spirits entered the pigs, causing the herd to rush down the steep bank into the sea and drown.

Theological Significance:

The account of Legion highlights several key theological themes:

1. Authority of Christ: The narrative underscores the supreme authority of Jesus over the spiritual realm. The demons recognize Jesus as the "Son of the Most High God" and submit to His command, demonstrating His power over evil forces.

2. Spiritual Warfare: The account illustrates the reality of spiritual warfare and the presence of demonic forces in the world. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual battle that believers face and the need for reliance on Christ's power.

3. Restoration and Redemption: The transformation of the demon-possessed man into a person in his right mind, clothed and sitting at Jesus' feet, signifies the restorative power of Jesus. It reflects the broader theme of redemption and the hope of deliverance from sin and bondage.

4. Witness and Testimony: After being freed from the demons, the man desires to follow Jesus, but Jesus instructs him to return to his home and tell others what the Lord has done for him. This emphasizes the importance of personal testimony in spreading the Gospel.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The presence of a Roman legion in the region would have been a familiar concept to the original audience, as Judea was under Roman occupation. The use of the term "Legion" to describe the multitude of demons may have evoked the image of an overwhelming and organized force, further emphasizing the miraculous nature of Jesus' deliverance.

Conclusion:

The account of Legion serves as a powerful testament to the authority of Jesus Christ over the forces of darkness and His ability to bring about profound transformation in the lives of those who are oppressed. It calls believers to recognize the reality of spiritual warfare and to trust in the redemptive power of Christ.A regiment of the Roman army, the number of men composing which differed at different times. It originally consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of horsemen, who were in number a tenth of the foot-men. The word is used (Matthew 26:53; Mark 5:9) to express simply a great multitude. 1. (n.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.

2. (n.) A military force; an army; military bands.

3. (n.) A great number; a multitude.

4. (n.) A group of orders inferior to a class.

LEGION

le'-jun.

See ARMY; ARMY, ROMAN.

3003. legion -- a legion
... 3002, 3003. legion. 3004 . a legion. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine; Noun,
Masculine Transliteration: legion Phonetic Spelling: (leg ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3003.htm - 6k

4686. speira -- anything wound up or coiled, by ext. a body (of ...
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: speira Phonetic Spelling: (spi'-rah) Short Definition:
a cohort Definition: a cohort, the tenth part of a legion; a military ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4686.htm - 6k

The Legion Dispossessed. Mk 5:18,19
... MARK Hymn 92 The legion dispossessed. Mk 5:18,19. John Newton 8,7,8,7. The legion
dispossessed. Mark 5:18,19. Legion was my name by nature,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 92 the legion dispossessed.htm

The Legion of Demons.
... A DAY OF MIRACLES BY THE LAKE THE LEGION OF DEMONS. ... And Jesus asked him, "What is
thy name?". And he said, "Legion;" for many demons were entered into him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the legion of demons.htm

God Sent Rain from Heaven for Marcus Aurelius C??sar in Answer to ...
... [1418] But the soldiers of the so-called Melitene legion, [1419] through the faith
which has given strength from that time to the present, when they were drawn ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter v god sent rain from.htm

Placidus Attempts to Take Jotapata and is Beaten Off. Vespasian ...
... After these came the peculiar cavalry of his own legion, for there were a hundred
and twenty horsemen that peculiarly belonged to every legion. ...
/.../chapter 6 placidus attempts to.htm

Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds and Waves with Moses' ...
... Christ's Power Over Unclean Spirits. The Case of the Legion. The Cure of the Issue
of Blood. ... Now of what God did the Legion testify that Jesus was the Son? ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xx comparison of christs power.htm

How Titus Marched to Jerusalem, and How He was in Danger as He was ...
... to support them; then came Titus himself, having with him another select body; and
then came the pikemen; after whom came the horse belonging to that legion. ...
/.../chapter 2 how titus marched.htm

The Lord of Demons
... And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.10. And he besought
Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.11. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the lord of demons.htm

Concerning Our Lord, and Concerning Death and Satan
... 2. Sin cried aloud; she gave counsel to her sons, to the demons and the devils,
and unto them she said, Legion the head of your ranks is not, the sea has ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xxxv concerning our lord.htm

Claudius Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis, and Apologist.
... [ad160-180.] This author, an early apologist, is chiefly interesting as a competent
witness, who tells the story of the Thundering Legion [3756] in an artless ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/claudius apollinaris bishop of hierapolis.htm

Varus Composes the Tumults in Judea and Crucifies About Two ...
... 1. Upon Varus's reception of the letters that were written by Sabinus and the captains,
he could not avoid being afraid for the whole legion [he had left there ...
/.../chapter 5 varus composes the.htm

Legion (3 Occurrences)
... class. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LEGION. le'-jun. See ARMY; ARMY, ROMAN.
Multi-Version Concordance Legion (3 Occurrences). Mark ...
/l/legion.htm - 8k

Roman (26 Occurrences)
... Each legion was made up, ordinarily, of 6,000 men, who were divided into 10 cohorts,
each cohort containing 3 maniples, and each maniple in turn 2 centuries. ...
/r/roman.htm - 101k

Centurion (22 Occurrences)
... tu'-ri-un: As the name implies, hekatontarches or hekatontarchos, kenturion, Latin
centurio, was the commander of a hundred men, more or less, in a Roman legion...
/c/centurion.htm - 16k

Questioned (57 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Mark 5:9 Jesus also questioned him. "What is your name?" He said.
"Legion," he replied, "for there are a host of us." (WEY). ...
/q/questioned.htm - 22k

Cohort (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A body of about five or six hundred soldiers;
the tenth part of a legion. 2. (n.) Any band or body of warriors. ...
/c/cohort.htm - 9k

Army (401 Occurrences)
... The Roman legion, consisting roughly of 6,000 men, was familiar to the Jewish people,
and the word had become a term to express a large number (Matthew 26:53 ...
/a/army.htm - 76k

Demons (54 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:15 They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting,
clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were ...
/d/demons.htm - 34k

Quietly (30 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:15 and when they came to Jesus, they beheld the demoniac quietly seated,
clothed and of sane mind--the man who had had the legion; and they were awe ...
/q/quietly.htm - 16k

Questioning (65 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:9 and he was questioning him, 'What 'is' thy name?' and he answered,
saying, 'Legion 'is' my name, because we are many;' (YLT). ...
/q/questioning.htm - 24k

Observed (84 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:15 They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting,
clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were ...
/o/observed.htm - 30k

What does it mean that the name of the demon was Legion? | GotQuestions.org

What was a Roman legion? | GotQuestions.org

What was a Roman centurion? | GotQuestions.org

Legion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus