Healing a Demoniac in a Synagogue.

  ^c 34 Ah! what have we to do with thee

  35 Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. [We have in this phrase two personages indicated by the personal pronoun "him"; one of whom is commanded to come out of the other; one of whom is now rebuked and hereafter to be destroyed, the other of whom is delivered. In commanding silence Jesus refused to receive the demon's testimony. We can see at least three reasons for this: 1, it was not fitting that the fate of the people should rest upon the testimony of liars; 2, because receiving such testimony might have been taken as an indication that Jesus sustained friendly relations to Christ actually alleged ( Matthew 12:24 ); 3, the Messiahship of Jesus was to be gradually unfolded, and the time for its public proclamation had not yet come.]

And when the demon {^b unclean spirit} ^c had thrown him down in the midst, ^b tearing him and crying with a loud voice, ^c he came out of him, having done him no hurt. [The demon first racked the body of the man with a convulsion, and then, with a cry of rage, came out. All this was permitted that, 1, there might be clear evidence of demoniacal possession; 2, the demon's malignity might be shown; 3, it might be manifested that the spirit came not out of its own accord, but because compelled thereto by the command of Christ. The cry was, however, a mere impotent expression of anger, for Luke, "the beloved physician," notes that it did the man no hurt.]

  ^b 27 And they were all amazed, {^a amazement came upon all}, ^b insomuch that they questioned among themselves, ^c and they spake together, one with another, saying, ^b What thing is this? ^c What is this word? ^b a new teaching! ^c for with authority and power he commandeth ^b even the unclean spirits, ^c and they come out. ^b and they obey him. [The power to command disembodied spirits thus amazed the people, because it was more mysterious than the power to work physical miracles. By this miracle Jesus demonstrated his actual possession of the authority which he had just assumed in his teaching.]

  28 And the report of him went out straightway

{^c 37 And there went forth a rumor concerning him} ^b everywhere into all {^c every place of} ^b the region of Galilee roundabout.

[This fame was occasioned both by the miracle and the teaching. The benevolence and publicity of the miracle, and its power--the power of one mightier than Satan--would cause excitement in any community, in any age. Though this is the first miracle recorded by either Mark or Luke, yet neither asserts that it was the first miracle Jesus wrought, so there is no conflict with John 2:11 .]

{^c 37 And there went forth a rumor concerning him} ^b everywhere into all {^c every place of} ^b the region of Galilee roundabout.