Gentile wonderworkers were often "magicians," whose power others perceived as malevolent more often than not (as in Apul. Metam. 2.5, 20, 30; 3.16-18; 9.30). Ignoring the men's deliverance and focusing on the destruction of the property, the Gadarenes viewed Jesus as a magician, dangerous to their interests.

People's presuppositions are so strong that even divine miracles will not always convert them. I once debated for about seven hours with a professor in his office, providing evidence to refute his objections to Christianity and citing line after line of evidence for the truth of the Christian faith, each of which he dismissed on the basis of presuppositions. Finally exasperated, I demanded, "Would you believe in Jesus if someone were raised from the dead in front of you in his name?"

"No," he responded, "I'd say they weren't really dead."

"And you have the audacity to call me closed-minded for being a Christian?" I retorted.

We cannot, however, assume in advance who will respond to our testimony; most of us would have guessed that of all the Gadarenes, the ones least likely to respond to Jesus would be the demoniacs. As an atheist I argued vehemently against the gospel the first day I heard it, and the people who witnessed to me did not learn until a year later that I had become a Christian later that day and led ten people to Christ in the intervening year. We are responsible to sow seed everywhere and leave the harvest with God (13:3-23).