Bible Strands
Luke 4:33
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places a demon-possessed man in a synagogue addressing Jesus during a public teaching gathering. The man speaks aloud immediately after the crowd has witnessed Jesus' authoritative instruction.
The words — The Greek text uses ἔχων (echōn), meaning "having," to describe the man's condition of possessing a πνεῦμα (pneuma), or "spirit." This participle indicates a continuous state of being under demonic influence rather than a temporary encounter.
The thread — This scene parallels the exorcism account in Mark 1:23, where a man with an unclean spirit cries out in a synagogue. Both narratives establish the pattern of demonic recognition of Jesus' identity during public ministry.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to acknowledge that spiritual opposition actively confronts Jesus' public ministry. It demands recognition that demonic forces possess clear knowledge of His divine identity before His crucifixion and resurrection.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
Cross-references
- Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: