Luke 4:33

Analysis & Commentary

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice. Luke's first Capernaum miracle contrasts sharply with Nazareth's rejection. The phrase pneuma daimoniou akathartou (πνεῦμα δαιμονίου ἀκαθάρτου, spirit of an unclean demon) describes demonic possession. The word akathartos (ἀκάθαρτος, unclean) emphasizes moral and ceremonial impurity—demons defile those they possess.

The demon anekraxen phōnē megalē (ἀνέκραξεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, cried out with a loud voice), responding violently to Jesus' presence. That this occurred en tē synagōgē (ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ, in the synagogue) is significant—demonic presence in God's house reveals Israel's spiritual condition. Religious activity doesn't guarantee spiritual purity. Jesus' arrival exposes hidden evil, forcing demons to manifest and be expelled.

Historical Context

First-century Judaism recognized demonic possession as distinct from physical or mental illness. Synagogues were centers of community life, not just worship—teaching, legal proceedings, and social gatherings occurred there. That a demon-possessed man regularly attended synagogue without previous disruption suggests demons remained hidden until confronted by Jesus' authority. The confrontation demonstrates that Jesus' presence forces spiritual reality into the open—neutrality becomes impossible. His teaching and exorcisms worked together to establish God's kingdom.

Questions for Reflection

• What does the demon-possessed man's presence in the synagogue teach about the difference between religious activity and spiritual reality?
• How does Jesus' presence expose hidden evil and force spiritual realities into the open?
• Why is it significant that demons manifest violently when confronted by Jesus' authority?