"Evil Spirits" in Luke and Acts

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The phrase "evil spirits" is found in 4 verses in the New Testament:

 

Luke 7:21

Luke 8:2

Acts 19:12

Acts 19:13

 

Luke 7:21 - 'And in that same hour he cured many of [their] infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many [that were] blind he gave sight' 

Luke 8:2 - 'And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils'

Acts 19:12 - 'So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them'

Acts 19:13 - 'Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth'

 

The four verses show evil spirits both inhabiting and departing people.

 

In all 4 verses, 'evil' is Strong's G4190 and 'spirits' is G4151.

G4190 - evil - ponēros  πονηρός Adjective

1) full of labours, annoyances, hardships

a) pressed and harassed by labours

b) bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble

2) bad, of a bad nature or condition

a) in a physical sense: diseased or blind

b) in an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad

G4190 - From a derivation of G4192 - ponos πόνος Masculine Noun

1) great trouble, intense desire

2) pain

G4192 - From the base of G3993 - penēs πένης Adjective 

1) poor

 

G3993 - From a primary peno (to toil for daily subsistence)

 

G4151 - spirit - pneuma πνεῦμα Neuter Noun

1) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son

a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit)

b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth")

c) never referred to as a depersonalised force

2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated

a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides

b) the soul

3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting

a) a life giving spirit

b) a human soul that has left the body

c) a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel

1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men

2) the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ

4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one

a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.

5) a movement of air (a gentle blast)

a) of the wind, hence the wind itself

b) breath of nostrils or mouth

G4151- From G4154 - pneo - πνέω Verb - Primitive Root

1) to breathe, to blow

a) of the wind

 

G 4151: 3)C)1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men

 

 

Yahushua is shown healing those who were possessed by evil spirits.. those without Yahushua are shown not healing those who were possessed by evil spirits.

 

Acts 19:12-20

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

 

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

 

And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found [it] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

 

Those liberated in Yahushua from evil spirits coming together and burning their unholy books really reminds me of a good old-fashioned down-home deliverance.. my friend in Jr. High got saved and burned her evil albums and her ouija board.. it was pretty awesome.