Luke 4:36, commentary and pictures

On the Sabbath in the synagogue at Capernaum Jesus freed a man held under a demon's control before the assembled congregation, and all who witnessed it were amazed and spell-bound with wonder at teaching marked by authority.
With divine authority and power in his word he addressed the demon as an intelligent being and commanded it to torment its victim no more, and the unclean spirits could not resist but came out.
Their submission showed him to be the all-powerful Son of God, demonstrating divine power over evil and victory over the powers of darkness that broke Satan's power and revealed God's character.
The captive was set free from Satanic control and restored to himself in self-possession, and driving out spirits by his word astonished witnesses by showing his power to save fully, so that healing bodily disease showed he could also take sin away from the heart.
The same commanding word that drove out spirits and raised the dead will at his return call the dead in Christ to glorious immortal life, belonging to his Sabbath ministry of willingly comforting the sick and restoring the suffering, and showing that even when a captive cannot voice a prayer the heart's appeal for freedom is heard and deliverance is possible through him.

Setting and Amazement

On the Sabbath in the synagogue at Capernaum the worshipers were assembled when their quiet was broken by a man tormented by a spirit of an unclean devil. He had been held captive under a demon's control, and before the assembled congregation he was freed and restored to himself from that control. All who were present were amazed at a new teaching marked by authority, for with authority and power unclean spirits were commanded and they came out. They were left spell-bound with wonder and admiration at the command, and were still held in that amazement as Jesus retired from the synagogue. The public deliverance caused his fame to spread through the surrounding country. That casting out of the demon was then followed by another miracle quite as wonderful.

Authority and Power Revealed

With divine authority and power in his word, Jesus addressed the demon as an intelligent being and commanded it to come out of its victim and torment him no more. He commanded the unclean spirits, and they could not resist him but obeyed and came out. The people in the Capernaum synagogue were amazed at his command over them.

Their submission revealed Jesus to be the all-powerful Son of God, demonstrating divine power over evil and over demons. In freeing the man from Satan's control he demonstrated his victory over the powers of darkness and broke Satan's power. That deliverance revealed God's character, and the people marveled at his word and recognized the divine power shown in it.

The afflicted man was freed from demonic and Satanic control as a captive set free. He was restored to himself and regained self-possession. Driving out unclean spirits by his word astonished those who witnessed it and showed his power to save fully, so that healing bodily disease showed he could also take sin away from the heart.

Wider Meaning and Application

The same commanding word that drove out unclean spirits is the word by which the dead were raised to life. At his return that voice will call the dead in Christ from their tombs to glorious, immortal life, where they will ever be with him. This deliverance belongs to his Sabbath ministry as an example, for every Sabbath he comforted the sick and healed them. His healing work on that day was extensive, and on the Sabbath he healed the sick and drove out unclean spirits with authority and power. He used the day willingly and joyfully to reach people and to restore the suffering.

The freeing of the demoniac at Capernaum displays his authority over evil spirits and at the same time carries this assurance for every captive. Even when a captive is unable to voice a prayer, the heart's appeal for freedom is heard. Through Christ deliverance is possible for such a one.