Mark 1:24

What have we to do with thee? Literally, “What to us and to you?” This characteristic Hebrew idiom (see Judges 11:12; 2 Sam. 16:10) appears in the LXX virtually in the same form as here. It means, “What do we have in common?” The Gadarene demoniacs later used the same words (see Matt. 8:29; see on John 2:4). From Mark 1:23, 25, 26, it appears that only one evil spirit was in possession of the man. The plural pronouns in the present verse probably refer to all demons in general, with which class of beings this particular evil spirit identified himself.

Thou Jesus. Demons in possession of human beings commonly confessed that Jesus was the Son of God (see ch. 3:11, 12; 5:7). According to James, “the devils also believe, and tremble” (see James 2:19), and their knowledge of the divine will and purpose must far exceed that of man.

Destroy us. This demon evidently anticipated with terror the great judgment day of God (see Eze. 28:16-19; Matt. 8:29). He apparently knew of the “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), and was apprehensive that Christ was about to execute divine judgment upon him (see 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Holy One of God. The evil spirit hailed Jesus as One who was in particularly close relationship to God. At other times demons addressed Him as the “Son of God” (Matt. 8:29; Luke 8:28), the very title that led the Jewish leaders to desire His death (John 5:17, 18) and eventually to condemn Him (see Matt. 26:63-68; cf. John 10:30-36).