Verse 33 says in the synagogue, there was a man possessed by a “demon, an evil spirit”. Evil spirits, that is, demons, direct translation is “unclean” (original Greek), were created by God, and then rebelled against God (2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 3:8). Demons were previously angels. They are now at war against the Lord, his angels, and his people. (Zechariah 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Matthew 4:6, 13:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
Luke says that this man was “in the synagogue”. Perhaps he faithfully came every Sabbath and was a local well respected Jew. Even in congregations today, there are a few people who appear to be Christ followers, but really are demon-possessed. Not every demon acts upon a person like the Gerasenes demoniac (2 Corinthians 11:14).
Luke says that this man was possessed. Demons can possess a weak person. Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit in them, protected by God, can have a demon enter them and control them and never know it. Demons can come in and leave an unbeliever anytime and anywhere. A person can harbor a demon within them and be unaware of it (2 Corinthians, 1 Kings 22:21-22; Revelation 20:7-8).
Demons are actively working in and through many people in my time. How many times do harsh and unspeakable crimes happen at the hands of someone that others later exclaim they would have never expected the person to do it? They say, “It’s like he or she snapped. They suddenly changed and did something I never expected.” There is a good chance a demon was behind such acts.
