For Jesus had said to him, come out of this man, you impure spirit — the command has already been given: Jesus spoke the exorcism command before the demonic speech of verse 7. The demon's speech is resistance to a command already issued — the spirit is trying to negotiate its way out of the judgment already pronounced. The come out of this man is the same command as in Mark 1:25, but the demonic resistance here is more elaborate and prolonged than in the synagogue exorcism. The greater the possession, apparently, the more complex the exorcism process — though the outcome is never in doubt.

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