Devils even believed and trembled, but the Israel of God had closed their eyes and ears to divine evidences, and knew not the time of their visitation. Satan’s object in leading his wretched victim to the synagogue, was to distract the attention of the people from Jesus to the paroxysms of the poor sufferer and prevent the words of truth from reaching the hearts of the people. But the darkened understanding of the man comprehended that the teachings of Jesus were from Heaven. The power of divinity aroused the terror of the demon which controlled his mind, and a conflict ensued between it and his remnant of reason. {2SP 177.3}

Endog djævlene troede og skælvende; men Guds Israel havde lukket sine øjne og øren for de guddommelige vidnesbyrd. De kendte ikke sin besøgelsestid. Satans hensigt med at lede dette elendige menneske til synagogen var at drage folkets opmærksomhed bort fra Jesus til det lidende menneske og således forhindre sandheden fra at trænge ind i folkets hjerter. Men den stakkels mands formørkede forstand fattede, at Jesu lære var fra himlen. Den guddommelige kraft vakte forfærdelse hos den onde ånd, som beherskede hans sjæl, og der opstod en kamp imellem ånden og den smule fornuft, som mennesket endnu havde tilbage.