Archaeologists with the Associates of Biblical Research (ABR) may have found the location of one of Jesus more unusual deliverances, the Daily Mail reports.

It took place when the Lord cast a legion of demons out of deranged man.

In the account recorded in the Gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew, Jesus and the disciples had crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat to a region called the “country of the Gadarenes” (Matthew 8:28).

When they landed, they were promptly confronted by a demon-possessed man.

The Lord asked the demon what its name was. The demon answered, “My name is Legion, for we are many” (Mark 5:9).

As Jesus was casting them out, they pleaded to be allowed to go into a nearby herd of 2,000 pigs.

Jesus agreed.

When the demons entered the pigs, the tormented herd rushed down the steep hill and drowned in the sea.

ABR Director, Dr Scott Stripling, stated his team found the location near Kursi, Israel after analyzing the Biblical account and matching it with the features of the area.

They know that the disciples traveled from the West side of the Sea of Galilee to the east.

The first clue was the discovery in 1985 of a now submerged, Roman harbor on the eastern side of Galilee near Kursi. This included several large stones which served as Jetties and piers. This where the disciples would have docked their boat. They also found a large fish tank, where fisherman would have stored their live fish.

Additionally, archaeologists also found ancient tombs in the area. According to the Biblical accounts, this is where the deranged man lived after being driven out of the nearby village.

There is also steep hills and a cliff overlooking the Sea of Galilee just a 165 feet from the harbor.

There was even an archaeological explanation for why there was a herd of pigs in the area.

The 10th Roman Legion had its base nearby. Coincidentally, It had a boar as part of its ensign. The pigs were undoubtedly being raised to feed the soldiers.

‘From the harbor, every biblical detail aligns within a 656-foot radius,’ Stripling stated.

Not only is Stripling convinced, so were ancient Christians.

There is also a ruins of an ancient Byzantine Chapel at the site called the ‘Chapel of the Miracle.’ It even has a mosaic on its floor that appears to depict the deliverance.

The church and monastery were constructed around 500 AD. This means for nearly 1,500 year, Christians venerated this area believing it was the location of this great deliverance.

Don’t Send Us out of the Region

But during the deliverance, the evil spirit made a strange demand.

It pleaded not to be sent “out of the region” (Mark 5:10).

The Greek word, chōra. translated region by the NASV refers to a country, a district, province or territory. It describes a distinct political jurisdiction.

In ancient times, this area was known as the Decapolis. It was a jurisdiction made up of a group ten Greco-Roman cities.

It was a curious statement. Why would demons be concerned about being cast out of this specific region?

It reveals that there is a organizational structure within the demonic realm.

It seems that these demons were specifically connected to the Decapolis. This was their responsibility.

We see evidence of this in the Old Testament. In the Book of Daniel, a Godly angel was hindered from delivering a message to Daniel by the Prince of Persia. The angel finally broke through, when the archangel Michael stepped in to help (Daniel 10:13).

The Prince of Persia was the Demonic spirit over kingdom of Persia.

After delivering the message to Daniel, the Godly angel stated he was returning to fight the Prince of Persia (Daniel 10:20).

We read in Daniel 11:1, that the Godly angel then took his place beside the Persian King, Darius, to be of “assistance and a protection for him.” The Godly angel was now in a position to positively influence the kings of Persia.

I suspect that if the Godly Angel hadn’t done it, the Prince of Persia would have had a similar influential but evil role beside these kings.

This legion of demons in the Gadarenes were obviously filling a similar evil role in the Decapolis. They were very concerned about being forced out of the region as it would limit their influence.

Some have suggested that by being cast into the sea, they effectively cast out of the region.