en_bc/articles/demonpossession.md

# Demon Possession (Casting Out Demons)

When a person is “possessed” by a demon or has a demon, that person is controlled by a demon. The person is “demon-possessed.” To “cast out” a demon is to cause a demon to leave a person.

See: [Demon](../articles/demon.md)

#### More Information About This Topic

A person who is possessed by a demon can sometimes have very great strength. The Gospel of Mark talks about a demon-possessed man who was very strong. The demon made this man too strong for other people to be able to bind him with chains (see: Mark 5:4-5). The demon caused this man to live in tombs and to scream and hurt himself.

A demon can also cause a person to not be able to talk (see: Luke 11:14), to fall down, and to not be able to move (see: Mark 9:17-18). A demon can make a person say what the demon wants the person to say (see: Mark 1:23-24). A demon can cause a person to prophesy (see: Acts 16:16-18). More than one demon can be in a person (see: Mark 5:9-13).

Jesus often cast out demons (see: Matthew 4:24; 8:16; Mark 1:32-34). The demons knew who Jesus was and had to do whatever he said (see: Mark 1:24-27; 5:7, 11-13). Some of the Jewish leaders wrongly thought that Jesus was able to do miracles because he was possessed by a demon (see: Matthew 9:34; John 8:48-49).

Jesus also caused his disciples to be able to cast out demons (see: Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:17-20). Jesus taught that only when a person prays and fasts can some demons be cast out of a person (see: Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29)

A person cannot just say the name of Jesus and then make demons leave someone. Jesus must first give a person the power to cast out demons (see: Acts 19:11-18).

See:[Prophecy (Prophesy)](../articles/prophecy.md) ; [Minister (Ministry)](../articles/minister.md); [Miracle](../articles/miracle.md); [Disciple](../articles/disciple.md); [Pray (Prayer)](../articles/prayprayer.md); [Fasting](../articles/fasting.md)