Topical Bible: Demons: Cast out by Paul

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In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul is depicted as having authority over demonic forces, a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working through him. The Acts of the Apostles provides several accounts of Paul casting out demons, demonstrating the early Church's engagement in spiritual warfare and the triumph of Christ's authority over evil.

One of the most notable instances occurs in Philippi, as recorded in Acts 16:16-18. Here, Paul encounters a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination, which enabled her to predict the future. This spirit brought significant profit to her owners through fortune-telling. The girl followed Paul and his companions, proclaiming, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation" (Acts 16:17). Although her words were true, the source of her proclamation was demonic, and Paul, troubled by this, commanded the spirit to leave her: "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" (Acts 16:18). The spirit departed immediately, illustrating the power of Jesus' name and the authority given to His apostles.

Another significant account is found in Acts 19:11-16, where Paul is in Ephesus. God performed extraordinary miracles through Paul, to the extent that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were used to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits. This passage highlights the divine power at work through Paul, emphasizing that it was not Paul himself but God who was the source of these miracles. The narrative continues with the account of the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists who attempted to invoke the name of Jesus, whom Paul preached, to cast out demons. However, the evil spirit recognized Jesus and Paul but rejected their authority, leading to their defeat and humiliation. This incident underscores the necessity of a genuine relationship with Christ and the authority that comes from it.

Paul's encounters with demonic forces reflect the broader New Testament theme of the Kingdom of God advancing against the kingdom of darkness. His ability to cast out demons is a direct continuation of Jesus' ministry, as seen in the Gospels, where Jesus frequently cast out demons, demonstrating His dominion over evil. Paul's actions affirm the belief that through Christ, believers are empowered to confront and overcome spiritual adversaries.

The accounts of Paul casting out demons serve as a reminder of the spiritual realities faced by the early Church and the ongoing spiritual battle that Christians believe continues today. They highlight the importance of faith, the authority of Jesus' name, and the power of the Holy Spirit in overcoming the forces of darkness.

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Acts 16:16-18
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
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Acts 19:12
So that from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
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Library

Would-Be Exorcists
... To them He was only 'Jesus whom Paul preached.' They spoke His ... is not narrowness
or hostility to non-Christian efforts to cast out the demons from humanity ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/would-be exorcists.htm

Agency of Evil Spirits.
... dungeon; to the prisoners at Philippi; to Paul and his ... Had not Christ restrained
the demons, they would have ... vexed with a devil, whom Jesus cast out by His word ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /31 agency of evil spirits.htm

Agency of Evil Spirits
... dungeon; to the prisoners at Philippi; to Paul and his ... Had not Christ restrained
the demons, they would have ... vexed with a devil, whom Jesus cast out by His word ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 31 agency of evil.htm

Acts xvi. 13, 14
... "They caught Paul and Silas," it says, "and dragged them into the ... This makes you
more famous, the having power to cast out demons than the obeying them. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxxv acts xvi 13.htm

Against those who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs, and who ...
... He cast him out when he appeared unworthy, in order ... down all our affairs to the
arrangement of Demons? ... unsearchable and his ways past finding out." [575] But ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i against those who.htm

Jesus, Accordingly, in Turning Away the Minds of his Disciples...
... name, and by Thy name have cast out demons, and done ... in the name of Jesus, and expel
demons out of men ... Paul, moreover, in the second Epistle to the Thessalonians ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlix jesus accordingly in.htm

Why the Pharisees Asked a Sign from Heaven.
... to the Pharisees and Sadducees, both when they say that the demons were cast out
by Jesus ... bring back a soul which had gone out, so that it came out of the ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/2 why the pharisees asked.htm

The Unclean Spirits.
... The legion of demons who were cast out of the man ... Jesus to be "the Son of the Most
High God;" and the pythonic spirit which so grieved Paul, declared the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the unclean spirits.htm

Divine Healing.
... in the same authoritative power over sin and demons that Christ ... Paul escaping the
waves was cast upon the island of ... on the fire, there came a viper out of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter ix divine healing.htm

2 Cor. x. 1, 2
... Again they saw Christ casting out demons, yet called him one that had a demon. But
this was no imputation against him that cast them out, but an ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxi 2 cor x.htm