Perhaps your reading is mistaken. There is no mention of 'Legion' in Matthew, and two were delivered of demons.
while in Mark and Luke, only one possessed is mentioned. The location is the same (Gadarenes),
The location in Matthew is on the east shore of Genessaret, in the land of the Gergasenes (which then existed and is recognized by Biblical geographers). The location of this event is not at the same location as Gadara, which was on the southern tip of the lake near the Jordan outlet, and was not at the same time of year as the one described in Mark and Luke.
the swine possessed and drowned, and it takes place right after the account of Jesus awakening to still the storm.
Well, in this case, Levi recorded that the disturbance of the sea was caused by a great earthquake (along the Jordan Rift, perhaps?), though Jesus rebuked both the winds and the sea. They landed at Gergasa (now called Kursi and recently excavated). The time was in Second Adar (Feb. - Mar.) of 31 AD, about 8 months before the Gadara event.
Personally, I happen to think that there were two, but one was much more fierce than the other, and had the name of ‘Legion’.
A hypothesis that necessitates disbelief in the reliability of the Bible as written, first by the text compilers, then by translators. However, the 'Legion' incident did not occur at Gergasa, according to Scripture. The miracle at Gadara lines up with other events in Heshvan (Oct. - Nov.) of 31 AD. Prior to that, the cause of the waves was a furious wind (Mk 4:37, Lk. 8:23-24), with no mention of an earthquake.
A part of your quandrary arises from the choices taken by the compilers of the Nestle-Aland Critical Text for corrupted manuscripts from which the synthesis of these events became one, rather than two; reflected in translations based on the CT; which do not agree with archaeology. Through the CT variously confusing Gadara with a "Gerasa" and joins them in time, the wielders of "higher criticism" generate a paradox where there is none in the Majority/Byzantine/Textus Receptus tradition.
You may agree or disagree with this analysis, but it would not be wise to ignore it, I believe. So also for Peter's six denials. A facile explanation can be invented, but not accepted by scrutinizing the Faithful Scripture inspired, not by men, but by the Holy Ghost.
Respectfully --
So, according to ‘Levi’(inspired by the Holy Spirit?), the two demon possessed men in Matthew, and the accounts of ‘Legion’ in Mark and Luke are separate stories.
All three cases preceded by a storm at sea:
1. a swamped boat
2. a sleeping Jesus, accompanied by his disciples
3. They shout that they are going to perish
4. Jesus rebukes the storm
5. the disciples say, “What manner of man is this”, that the wind and sea obey him?
The demon possessed man or men:
1. are the first people that meet Jesus upon leaving the ship.
2. they live in the tombs
3. there is a large herd of swine, feeding, in the distance.
4. the devils ask to be allowed into the swine.
5. the swine run violently down a steep place.
6. they drown.
7. the swine herders beat it for town.
8. the people ask Jesus to leave.
Sidenote: My KJV ‘Pilgim Study Bible’s (Oxford Univ. Press) commentary by E. Schyler English and his contributing and consulting editors, disagrees with your analysis.
I still tend to think that in Matthew’s account, one of the possessed was ‘Legion’ and garnered the most attention.
**So also for Peter’s six denials.**
If I had been Peter, who was the boldest of the disciples it seems, I would have been disputing with the Lord more than once, from the upper room to the mount of olives, that I wouldn’t deny Him. The Lord may have told him again, with even more details. The three denials take place in the same time frame, in the same location.
Of the four accounts, only Matthew makes no mention of a means for Peter to warm himself. Only John makes no mention, that after the second denial, the accusers of Peter knew that he was from Galilee, because his speech was of that accent. The ovelap shows consistantsy of the four accounts.
My commentary makes no mention of six denials.
**Dr. Wittman, as the author, translator, and radio voice of HHI has lived, with his wife Norma, in a most prudent and frugal fashion, yet honoring The Lord for His Provision.**
That’s great. Just don’t tell me that the good Dr is infallible. My parents are in their eighties and readily admit that they are still learning.
Here’s something for you and the Dr. to analyze:
The phrase ‘God the Father’ is scriptural, the phrase ‘God the Son’ is not scriptural, neither is the phrase ‘God the Holy Spirit’ scriptural. (I, of course, will be glad to explain why)
Lord bless