And the experts in the law of Moses who had come down from Jerusalem were saying [Note: This followed the incident of Jesus healing a man with an evil spirit. See Matt. 12:22-28], "He has Beelzebub [in him]," and "He is driving out evil spirits by [the power of] the chief of evil spirits."

But whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but the evil he has done will be with him for ever:

'Verily I say to you, that all the sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and evil speakings with which they might speak evil,

thefts, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, an evil eye, evil speaking, pride, foolishness;

And a number, who were ill with different diseases, he made well, and sent out evil spirits; but he did not let the evil spirits say anything, because they had knowledge of him.

For Jesus was saying to [the evil spirit in] him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit."

Then He asked [the evil spirit], "What is your name?" And he answered Him, "My name is 'Legion,' [Note: This word means a number consisting of between 5,000 and 6,000], for there are many of us [i.e., evil spirits]."

And he said to them, Is it right to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? to give life or to put to death? But they said nothing.

And give them the power of driving out evil spirits:

And these are they by the wayside, where the word is planted; and when they have given ear, the Evil One comes straight away and takes away the word which has been planted in them.

And they came to Jesus, and saw the man in whom had been the evil spirits seated, clothed and with full use of his senses, and they were full of fear.

And those who had seen it gave them an account of what had been done to him who had the evil spirits, and of the fate of the pigs.

And when he was getting into the boat, the man in whom had been the evil spirits had a great desire to come with him.

And they sent out a number of evil spirits, and put oil on a great number who were ill, and made them well.