“Jesus cured many
Who were sick
With various diseases.
He cast out
Many demons.
He would not permit
These demons
To speak,
Because they knew him.”
καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις, καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν, καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν τὰ δαιμόνια, ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν.
Matthew, chapter 8:16, has something similar, but Jesus cast out these demons with merely a word. Luke, chapter 4:41, is also similar, but there the cast out demons knew and spoke out that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark said that Jesus cured many sick people (καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς) having various diseases (ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις), without indicating how this was done. Jesus also cast out many demons (καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν). However, he would not permit or allow these cast out demons to speak (καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν τὰ δαιμόνια), because they knew who he was (ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν). Some older texts added that these demons knew that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah (Χριστὸν εἶναι), as in Luke. This idea of not telling people that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah has come to be known as the Messianic secret. Those who knew about the true role of Jesus were told to be quiet about it.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 