In New Testament literature, the primary opponent of Jesus was Satan, “the prince of the power of this air” (Ephesians 2:2), whose dominion over this world necessitated Christ’s incarnation. Always acting with evil intent, Satan and his demonic minions had deceived the pagans who worshipped them as gods (1 Corinthians 10:19–22) and worked through them to thwart the saving mission of the Christians. The exorcism of demons from possessed individuals by Jesus and his followers not only affirmed their spiritual authority on earth but also demonstrated the reality of the cosmic war between Jesus and Satan and provided proof that Jesus would win in the end. The ability of those afflicted by demons to recognize Jesus as the son of God suggests that they were once angels who had inhabited Heaven with Christ and knew his true identity before their rebellion against God.
Then Jesus was led into the desert by the spirit to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, thereafter he was hungry. And the tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the son of God, say the word to turn these stones into bread.” Jesus said in response, “It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but in every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him up into the holy city and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will hand you over to his angels and they will bear you in their hands lest perhaps you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You will not tempt the Lord, your God.’ ” Again, the devil took him up onto a very high mountain and showed to him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said to him, “I will give to you all of these, if you fall down and adore me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You will adore the Lord, your God, and you will serve him alone.’ ” Then the devil left him and behold angels came and ministered to him.
And they came across the channel of the sea into the region of the Gerasenes. And as Jesus disembarked from the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit rushed to him from the tombs. He had a small dwelling among the tombs and no one could bind him, not even with chains. For he had been bound often with shackles and chains and always tore them apart and broke them into pieces and no one could tame him. And night and day he was among the tombs and in the mountains, shouting and cutting himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from afar, he came running up and worshipped him. And crying with a loud voice, he said, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, son of the highest God? I adjure you by God not to torment me!” Jesus said to him, “Go forth from this man, unclean spirit!” And he asked him, “What is your name?” And the man said to Jesus, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he pleaded with Jesus much not to drive him out of the region. And at the foot of the mountain there was a large herd of foraging swine. And the spirits pleaded with him, saying, “Send us into the swine, so that we may enter into them.” And Jesus immediately granted this to them. And going forth from the man, the unclean spirits entered into the swine and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed with great speed down into the sea, and were drowned in the water. And those who fed them fled and spread word in the city and in the fields and the people came out to see what had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been troubled by the demon sitting clothed and with a clear mind and they were afraid. And those who had witnessed what had happened told them how he had treated the demon and also concerning the swine. And they asked him to depart from their shores. And when Jesus boarded the ship, the man who had been troubled by the demon asked if he could come with him. Jesus did not allow it, but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy upon you.” And the man went forth and began to make it known in Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him and everyone marveled.
And it happened that, as we went to prayer, a certain girl in the grip of a spirit of divination met us. She earned a large profit for her owners by telling the future. Following Paul and us, this girl cried out, saying, “These men are servants of the highest God, who announce to you the way of salvation.” She did this for many days until Paul grew annoyed, turned to the spirit and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to leave her.” And the spirit went forth from her that same hour. But her owners, seeing that their hope of profit had vanished, grabbed hold of Paul and Silas and led them to the rulers in the marketplace.