Luke 4:31-37
Jesus’ authoritative word teaches truth and drives out unclean spirits.
31 He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day,
32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,
34 saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
35 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
36 Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
37 News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region.
Jesus’ authoritative word teaches truth and drives out unclean spirits.
Luke shows Jesus teaching in Capernaum with divine authority and commanding an unclean spirit with effective power, proving that the Spirit-anointed Messiah’s word confronts and overthrows demonic bondage.
Following Nazareth’s rejection, Luke contrasts unbelief with recognition from demonic forces. Authority (ἐξουσία) becomes a recurring theme in early Galilean ministry.
After rejection in Nazareth, Jesus goes down to Capernaum in Galilee and teaches on the Sabbath. In the synagogue, a man with an unclean demonic spirit cries out, identifying Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus rebukes the spirit, commands it to be silent and come out, and the man is delivered without injury.
The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom
Jesus, the Spirit-anointed and Scripture-obedient Son, overcomes temptation, announces God's fulfilled salvation, confronts unbelief, displays authority over evil and sickness, and presses forward in the mission of proclaiming the kingdom.