Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 8:34

"And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would depart from their borders." — Matthew 8:34 (ASV)

The whole city—that is, the population of Gadara or Gerasa (more probably the former), according to the reading we adopt in Matthew 8:28.

Mark and Luke add that they found the man clothed, and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, in the clinging gratitude of faith. The narrative suggests that the garment he now wore, as the outward sign of a new self-respect, had been supplied by the pity of the disciples.

They begged Him to depart—It was characteristic of the wild, half-pagan population that they were led to see the Prophet who had performed so great a work as a Destroyer rather than a Savior, and therefore shrank from His presence among them.

The healed man, however, did not feel this way. With a faith that was real, though weak, he felt that he was only safe while close to his Deliverer. He followed Jesus to the boat and, as He was embarking (Mark 5:18), pleaded that he might go with Him.

But this was not the discipline needed for his spiritual health. Retirement, renewed fellowship with his family in his own home, and the quiet witness he would give there that the Lord had compassion on him—this was better for him than the work of a more declared discipleship. And so he went on his way, proclaiming what Jesus had done for him, becoming a true evangelist to a people whose panicked terror showed that they were still in darkness and the shadow of death.