Daemoniac

"One "possessed with a devil." In the days of our Lord and his" "apostles, evil spirits, "daemons," were mysteriously permitted" by God to exercise an influence both over the souls and bodies "of men, inflicting dumbness (Matt. 9:32), blindness (12:22)," "epilepsy (Mark 9:17-27), insanity (Matt. 8:28; Mark 5:1-5)." Daemoniacs are frequently distinguished from those who are "afflicted with ordinary bodily maladies (Mark 1:32; 16:17, 18;" "Luke 6:17, 18). The daemons speak in their own persons (Matt." "8:29; Mark 1:23, 24; 5:7). This influence is clearly" distinguished from the ordinary power of corruption and of temptation over men. In the daemoniac his personality seems to "be destroyed, and his actions, words, and even thoughts to be" "overborne by the evil spirit (Mark, l.c.; Acts 19:15)."