Is the Story of the Two Demon-Possessed Men Confusing?

QUESTION:

Does the Bible contradict itself in Mark 5:1–6 and Matthew 8:28–31? Both passages appear to describe the same event—Jesus casting out demons—but with differing details. Mark mentions one man, while Matthew says there were two. Is this a contradiction?

ANSWER:

Let’s begin by reading the two accounts carefully:

Mark 5:1–7 (NKJV):

1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit…
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

Meanwhile, Matthew 8:28–31 (NKJV) says:

28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

Is This a Contradiction?

Not at all. The difference lies in focus, not accuracy.

Mark (and also Luke 8:26–33) chooses to focus on the one man who was the more dominant figure—he was the one who ran to Jesus, spoke to Him, and became the center of the interaction. Matthew, on the other hand, provides a broader account, acknowledging that there were actually two men present.

This is common in eyewitness testimony. Writers may focus on the most dramatic or significant figure in a scene without denying the presence of others.

A Practical Example to Understand This

Let’s say you and a friend go to a job interview. At the gate, you’re stopped by a guard for inspection. Another guard stands nearby but says nothing. Later, you both describe the experience:

You say: “We were stopped by a guard.”
Your friend says: “We were stopped by guards at the gate.”

Did either of you lie? No. You’re just describing the same situation from different perspectives. One focuses on the main actor; the other includes the full context. The same applies to the Gospel accounts.

Theological Insight

This example teaches us something important about how the Bible communicates truth:

The Gospel writers were not trying to duplicate each other word-for-word, but rather convey spirit-inspired testimonies of real events (2 Timothy 3:16).
Their unique emphases help paint a fuller picture of what happened.
Variations in detail confirm that these are authentic eyewitness accounts rather than copied scripts. If every account was identical in detail and wording, that would raise questions about their authenticity.

Mark may have highlighted the man who had the most dramatic deliverance—the one who ran and worshiped Jesus (Mark 5:6)—to emphasize the personal transformation and authority of Christ over unclean spirits. Matthew, being a more structured writer, may have recorded the exact number of demon-possessed individuals to provide completeness.

Moreover, in Mark 5:9, Jesus asks the demon’s name:

“Then He asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’”

This shows the depth of demonic oppression—a “legion” could represent thousands. The focus isn’t just on how many possessed men there were, but on Jesus’ divine authority to command even a vast host of demons. This aligns with

Colossians 2:15:

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Conclusion

There is no contradiction between Matthew and Mark. Both accounts are true—one mentions two men, while the other emphasizes one prominent individual. Together, they give us a fuller, more powerful testimony of Jesus’ authority over demonic forces.

This passage not only clarifies the harmony of Scripture but also points us to a central truth: Jesus is Lord over all spiritual powers, and no force of darkness can stand against Him (Matthew 28:18).

May the Lord bless you as you study His Word more deeply.