demon possession

¹And they went across the strait of the sea into the region of the Gerasenes. ²And as he was departing from the boat, he was immediately met, from among the tombs, by a man with an unclean spirit, ³who had his dwelling place with the tombs; neither had anyone been able to bind him, even with chains. ⁴For having been bound often with shackles and chains, he had broken the chains and smashed the shackles; and no one had been able to tame him. ⁵And he was always, day and night, among the tombs, or in the mountains, crying out and cutting himself with stones. ⁶And seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and adored him.

⁴Little sons, you are of God, and so you have overcome him. For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

⁷Therefore, be subject to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

¹⁶Then it happened that, as we were going out to prayer, a certain girl, having a spirit of divination, met with us. She was a source of great profit to her masters, through her divining. ¹⁷This girl, following Paul and us, was crying out, saying: “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are announcing to you the way of salvation!” ¹⁸Now she behaved in this way for many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her.” And it went away in that same hour.

⁸Be sober and vigilant. For your adversary, the devil, is like a roaring lion, traveling around and seeking those whom he might devour.

²⁸And when he had arrived across the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes, he was met by two who had demons, who were so exceedingly savage, as they went out from among the tombs, that no one was able to cross by that way. ²⁹And behold, they cried out, saying: “What are we to you, O Jesus, the Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ³⁰Now there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding. ³¹Then the demons petitioned him, saying: “If you cast us from here, send us into the herd of swine.” ³²And he said to them, “Go.” And they, going out, went into the swine. And behold, the entire herd suddenly rushed along a steep place into the sea. And they died in the waters. ³³Then the shepherds fled, and arriving in the city, they reported on all this, and on those who had had the demons.

¹And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity.

²⁶And they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷And when he had gone out to the land, a certain man met him, who had now had a demon for a long time. And he did not wear clothes, nor did he stay in a house, but among the sepulchers. ²⁸And when he saw Jesus, he fell down before him. And crying out in a loud voice, he said: “What is there between me and you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me.” ²⁹For he was ordering the unclean spirit to depart from the man. For on many occasions, it would seize him, and he was bound with chains and held by fetters. But breaking the chains, he was driven by the demon into deserted places. ³⁰Then Jesus questioned him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered into him. ³¹And they petitioned him not to order them to go into the abyss.

¹⁰Concerning the rest, brothers, be strengthened in the Lord, by the power of his virtue. ¹¹Be clothed in the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the treachery of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the directors of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. ¹³Because of this, take up the armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand the evil day and remain perfect in all things. ¹⁴Therefore, stand firm, having been girded about your waist with truth, and having been clothed with the breastplate of justice, ¹⁵and having feet which have been shod by the preparation of the Gospel of peace.

²⁴And reports of him went out to all of Syria, and they brought to him all those who had maladies, those who were in the grasp of various sicknesses and torments, and those who were in the hold of demons, and the mentally ill, and paralytics. And he cured them.