{With an unclean spirit} (en pneumati akathart(9369)). This
use of en "with" is common in the Septuagint like the Hebrew
_be_, but it occurs also in the papyri. It is the same idiom as
"in Christ," "in the Lord" so common with Paul. In English we
speak of our being in love, in drink, in his cups, etc. The
unclean spirit was in the man and the man in the unclean spirit,
a man in the power of the unclean spirit. Luke has "having," the
usual construction. See on 烘t 22:43|. Unclean spirit is used as
synonymous with {demon} (daimonion). It is the idea of
estrangement from God ( Zec 13:2 ). The whole subject of
demonology is difficult, but no more so than the problem of the
devil. Jesus distinguishes between the man and the unclean
spirit. Usually physical or mental disease accompanied the
possession by demons. One wonders today if the degenerates and
confirmed criminals so common now are not under the power of
demons. The only cure for confirmed criminals seems to be
conversion (a new heart).