Luke 4:33
in Luke 4In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And in the synagogue there was a man, that had a spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice,
KJV
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
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This verse in Luke 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA spirit of an unclean devil - As demon was used both in a good and bad sense before and after the time of the evangelists the word unclean may have been added here by St. Luke, merely to express the quality of this spirit. But it is worthy of remark, that the inspired writers never use the word δαιμων, demon, in a good sense. See the whole of this case explained, Mar 1:23 (note), etc.
This site's exposition
In the synagogue there was
on Luke 4:33-35
The demon confesses what Nazareth would not, I know who You are, the Holy One of God. Jesus commands silence, refusing testimony from an unclean source even when its content is true.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
In the same passage, "the spirit of an unclean devil" exclaims: "What have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God." I do not here raise the question whether this appellation was suitable to one who ought not to be called Christ, unless he were sent by the Creator.
But He generally intermingles with His teaching the performance of mighty works. For those whose reason does not incline to knowledge, are roused by the manifestation of miracles. Hence it follows, And there was in the synagogue a man which had a devil. But the Jews spoke falsely of the glory of Christ, saying, He casteth out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. To remove this charge, when the devils came beneath His invincible power, and endured not the Divine Presence, they sent forth a savage cry, as it follows: And he cried with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, &c. (et Tit. Bost.) For the devils thought by praises of this sort to make Him a lover of vainglory, that He might be induced to abstain from opposing or destroying them by way of grateful return.
The Medieval Church3 voices
After the communication of Christ's teaching, there follows here its authentication through the power of a miracle. This admirable power is shown in Christ teaching in a threefold manner: first, with respect to the male sex; second, with respect to the female sex; third, with …
And in the synagogue there was a man having an unclean demon. Rightly in the synagogue was the man who had the unclean spirit, because he had lost the Holy Spirit. For the devil had entered where Christ had left. As even now some say …
We must know also that many now have devils, namely, such as fulfil the desires of devils, as the furious have the dæmon of anger; and so of the rest. But the Lord came into the synagogue when the thoughts of the man were collected, and then says to the dæmon that dwelt there, Hold thy peace, and immediately throwing him into the middle he departs out of him. For it becomes not a man always to be angry, (that is, like the brutes,) nor always to be without anger, (for that is want of feeling,) but he must take the middle path, and have anger against what is evil; and so the man is thrown into the midst when the unclean spirit departs from him.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And in the synagogue there was a man,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
We should notice, in this passage — the clear religious knowledge possessed by the devil and his agents. Twice in these verses we have proof of this. "I know you who you are — the holy one of God!" was the language of an demon in one case. "You are Christ the son of God," was the language of many demons in another case. Yet this knowledge was a knowledge unaccompanied by faith, or hope, or charity. Those who possessed it were miserable evil beings — full of bitter hatred both against God and man.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We should notice, in this passage — the clear religious knowledge possessed by the devil and his agents. Twice in these verses we have proof of this. "I know you who you are — the holy one of God!" was the language of an demon in one case. "You are Christ the son of God," was the language of many demons in another case. Yet this knowledge was a knowledge unaccompanied by faith, or hope, or charity. Those who possessed it were miserable evil beings — full of bitter hatred both against God and man. Let us beware of an unsanctified knowledge of Christianity. It is a dangerous possession, but a fearfully common one in these latter days. We may know the Bible intellectually, and have no doubt about the truth of its contents. We may have our memories well stored with its leading texts — and be able to talk glibly about its leading doctrines. And all this time the Bible may have no influence over our hearts, and wills, and consciences. We may, in reality, be nothing better than the demons! Let it never content us to know religion with our heads only. We may go on all our lives saying, "I know this — and I know that," and sink at last into Hell, with the words upon our lips. Let us see that our knowledge bears fruit in our lives. Does our knowledge of sin make us hate it? Does our knowledge of Christ make us trust and love Him? Does our knowledge of God's will make us strive to do it? Does our knowledge of the fruits of the Spirit make us labor to show them in our daily behavior? Knowledge of this kind is really profitable. Any other religious knowledge will only add to our condemnation at the last day. We should notice, secondly, in this passage — the almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We see sicknesses and devils alike yielding to His command. He rebukes evil spirits — and they come forth from the unhappy people whom they had possessed.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συναγωγῇ | sunagogea | synagogue | G4864 → | 56 times |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἄνθρωπος | anthropos | a man | G444 → | 549 times |
| ἔχων | echon | having | G2192 → | 707 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | a spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| δαιμονίου | daimoniou | of a demon | G1140 → | 61 times |
| ἀκαθάρτου, | akathartou | unclean, | G169 → | 32 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀνέκραξεν | anekraxen | he cried out | G349 → | 5 times |
| φωνῇ | phonea | in a voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| μεγάλῃ· | megale | loud; | G3173 → | 243 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
συναγωγῇsynagogue
sunagogeaG4864 →56 times
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
ἄνθρωποςa man
anthroposG444 →549 times
ἔχωνhaving
echonG2192 →707 times
πνεῦμαa spirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
δαιμονίουof a demon
daimoniouG1140 →61 times
ἀκαθάρτου,unclean,
akathartouG169 →32 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀνέκραξενhe cried out
anekraxenG349 →5 times
φωνῇin a voice
phoneaG5456 →139 times
μεγάλῃ·loud;
megaleG3173 →243 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 1:23Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
it leads to
- Mark 9:25
When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
- Mark 5:2
As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs.
- Mark 7:25
Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.
- Luke 4:33–37
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
- Mark 1:34
And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Mark 9:25
Where this verse is studied
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About Luke
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 4; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.