What does the Bible say about unclean spirits?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

• Mark 1:23-26

  [23] Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, [24] saying, "Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!" [25] Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" [26] The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

• Matthew 12:43-45

  [43] But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it. [44] Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. [45] Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation."

• Matthew 10:1

  He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

• Mark 3:11

  The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, "You are the Son of God!"

• Acts 5:16

  Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

• Acts 8:7

  For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

• 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!"

• 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.

• Luke 9:42

  While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

• Matthew 8:16

  When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;

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