Definition: And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house, but in the tombs.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Luke 8:27. It's a really interesting and somewhat unusual passage! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: Jesus is traveling to a specific place (land) – think of it as a journey or a mission. As he travels, he encounters a man who has been plagued by demons for a long time. This man is completely lost and without any possessions, living outside of society in the tombs – essentially, he’s hidden amongst the dead! Let's unpack the details: “And when he went forth to land…” : Jesus is leaving a place and starting a journey. “…there met him out of the city a certain man…” : This man is already present in a town or city, but he’s not living a normal life. He's clearly struggling with something. “which had devils long time” : This is key! The man has been dealing with powerful spiritual forces – demons – for a very long period of time. “Long time” here means a significant amount of time, perhaps years or even decades. “and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house…” : He's completely naked and doesn’t have any possessions – he's essentially invisible. He’s living outside of society and not connected to anyone’s normal life. “…but in the tombs.” : This is the really strange part! The man is living amongst the dead . He’s surrounded by corpses, as if he's somehow connected to them. What does this verse mean? This story is a powerful illustration of Jesus’ victory over evil and spiritual forces. It suggests several things: Jesus is conquering darkness: The man represents temptation, sin, or any kind of spiritual opposition that opposes God. Evil can hide in unexpected places: The man's presence amongst the dead symbolizes how evil can be hidden and disguised. God’s power is greater than evil: Jesus’ arrival in the tombs demonstrates that God’s love and power are ultimately stronger than any spiritual darkness. In short, Luke 8:27 tells us that Jesus is confronting a powerful enemy who has been resisting God's work for a very long time, and he's doing so by appearing amongst the dead. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Discuss its symbolism? Compare it to other stories about overcoming evil?