What does the Bible say about demonic possession?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Mark 5:1-20

  [1] They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. [2] When he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [3] who had his dwelling in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, [4] because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. [5] Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. [6] When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, [7] and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me." [8] For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" [9] He asked him, "What is your name?" He said to him, "My name is Legion, for we are many." [10] He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. [11] Now there was on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding. [12] All the demons begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them." [13] At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. [14] Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened. [15] They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. [16] Those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs. [17] They began to beg him to depart from their region. [18] As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] He didn't allow him, but said to him, "Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you." [20] He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.

• Acts 16:16-18

  [16] It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling. [17] Following Paul and us, she cried out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!" [18] She was doing this for many days. But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" It came out that very hour.

• James 4:7

  Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

• 1 Peter 5:8

  Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

• Ephesians 6:10-18

  [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; [16] above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; [18] with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:

• Luke 4:33-36

  [33] In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, [34] saying, "Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!" [35] Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. [36] Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"

• Matthew 12:22

  Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.

• Matthew 17:18

  Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

• 1 John 4:4

  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

• 1 John 4:1-3

  [1] Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, [3] and every spirit who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.

Related topics

• demonic spirits
• demonic oppression
• possession