Apollonius's two main 'exorcism' stories involve (1) handing a woman a pre-written threatening letter addressed to the possessing spirit — the spirit stays, just agrees not to harm the boy — and (2) pointing out a disguised demon (a blind beggar) at Ephesus during a plague and having the crowd stone him to death, revealing a monster underneath. Neither constitutes casting out a demon by spiritual authority as Jesus did.

Scholars broadly agree that during his ministry, people viewed Jesus as a miracle worker and exorcist. Even without affirming the miracles themselves occurred, historians confirm this was the contemporary popular perception.

Virtual scholarly consensus on historical facts about Jesus: lived in Palestine, believed special relationship with God, performed astonishing deeds, taught in parables, criticized Jewish leaders, crucified under Pilate

Summarizing the bedrock facts about Jesus accepted by virtually all historians including non-Christians

Bart Ehrman is in a small minority who deny Jesus was known as a miracle worker during his lifetime; most scholars disagree

Noting limits and minority positions within the broader consensus

Q&A: Can a Christian be demon-possessed? Winger argues no, based on Jesus's parable of the unoccupied house

A viewer asks whether Christians can have an unclean spirit/demon, and whether Winger's view implies deliverance ministry is only for unbelievers.

The Chosen's depiction of Nicodemus — creative but without historical evidence

Specific example from The Chosen Episode 1

Can a Christian be demonized or possessed? — No, the Spirit-indwelt believer cannot be internally possessed

A viewer asks if a Christian can be demonized and if Mike has ever cast out a demon.

Question: Why is demonic activity so prevalent in the NT vs. OT?

Viewer Tinkerbell Bear asks why the New Testament has so many examples of demons being cast out while the Old Testament rarely mentions demonic possession.

David's music drives away Saul's harmful spirit — a type of exorcism

David is summoned to play the lyre and the harmful spirit departs from Saul, suggesting an early OT proto-exorcism.

Why far more demonic activity in the NT than OT — quantity and intentionality

Even granting OT demonic activity, the sheer volume of exorcisms in the Gospels and Acts is historically anomalous and must be explained theologically.

Demonic activity in first century as messianic confirmation and spiritual battleground

Jesus's authority over demons served as a sign to the Jews confirming his messianic identity; the concentration of demonic opposition is explained by Satan's forces mobilizing against the Son of God.

The claim that Jesus was based on Jesus ben Ananias (from Josephus) is historically untenable given the robust bedrock consensus of historical facts about Jesus.

Q16 from Aaron Rampersad: what do you think about the claim that Jesus Christ was based on Jesus ben Ananias in Josephus's Jewish War?

Mandating church traditions as biblical commands is wrong; Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 do not support it

Q8 from John Doe: A church mandates women wear dresses and men be clean-shaven using Proverbs 22:28 and Matthew 18:18 — is it biblical to mandate adherence to tradition?

Survey of Mark showing Jesus consistently correcting false messianic expectations: (1) Mark 1:8 — baptize with Holy Spirit, not raise armies. (2) Mark 1:11 — beloved Son (sacrifice imagery from Genesis 22). (3) Mark 1:15 — repent and believe, not take up arms. (4) Jesus's ministry: exorcisms and healings, not political conquest — the enemy is Satan, not Rome; the problem is sin, not occupation. (5) Jesus sends crowds away instead of rallying them for war. The whole Gospel of Mark is about fixing these expectations.

Survey of Mark — correcting messianic expectations