What does the Bible say about possession?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

• 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:

• 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.

• 1 Peter 2:9

  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

• 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.

• James 4:7

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

• Jude 1:6

  Angels who didn't keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

• Matthew 25:41

  Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Related topics

• demonic possession