demonic 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.

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.

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

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

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.

³³And in the synagogue, there was a man who had an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴saying: “Let us alone. What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God.” ³⁵And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and depart from him.” And when the demon had thrown him into their midst, he departed from him, and he no longer harmed him. ³⁶And fear fell over them all. And they discussed this among themselves, saying: “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they depart.”

²²Then one who had a demon, who was blind and mute, was brought to him. And he cured him, so that he spoke and saw.

¹⁸Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why were we unable to cast him out?”

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.

¹Most beloved, do not be willing to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²The Spirit of God may be known in this way. Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh is of God; ³and every spirit who contradicts Jesus is not of God. And this one is the Antichrist, the one that you have heard is coming, and even now he is in the world.

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.