For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
7. Unclean spirits. He toucheth certain kinds briefly, that we may know with what miracles they “Samaritae,” the Samaritans. were brought to attribute any authority to Philip. That crying wherewith the unclean spirits cried was a token of resistance. Wherefore this served not a little to set forth the power of Christ, that he did bind the devils with his commandment, though they resisted stubbornly.
Samson's riddle is here again unriddled: Out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong sweetness. The persecution that was designed to extirpate the church was by the overruling providence of God made an occasion of the enlargement of it.
Commenting on Acts 8:4-13
For unclean spirits,.... Devils, so called because they were unclean themselves, defiled others, add delighted in impure persons and places; See Gill on Mat 10:1. crying with loud voice; showing their unwillingness to remove, and the irresistibleness of divine power they could not withstand: came out of many that were possessed with them; who had for a long time dwelt in them, and had greatly...