The 8th chapter is a continuation of Jesus’ ministry among the gentiles as the words “In those days,” are meant to tell us not a specific date but that they were still in the Decapolis region. But where had such a crowd come from here among the gentiles?
There is little doubt that Jesus’ ministry to the deaf and mute man had an immediate impact but I can’t help but wonder if there was a front man in the healed demoniac of chapter five. This man was from this very area and after being delivered from the legion of demons begged Jesus that he might be with Him but instead Jesus told him to “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”
That day I believe Jesus had 4000 friends of the healed demoniac who had been told the story of what great things Jesus had done for him. There is another interesting reality in the setting of circumstances of this story as the immediate need was set in motion because of Jesus’ priority to teach. Here He was among the gentiles teaching them the things of the kingdom and apparently they stayed with Him hanging on His every word for three days.
These gentiles chose not to leave and seek food for their physical needs because they were receiving food for their souls. And after three days of this these folks had a strong physical need to eat and many wouldn’t have made it back home to get food without fainting and this becomes the reason for the miracle.