no direct evidence that he did, although without question he set limits to their power, and rescued many of their victims. Their kingdom was shaken by Jesus’ ministry (cf. Mark 3:23//Matt 12:25//Luke 11:17–22), but not yet overthrown. If “the spirits in refuge” in our text are seen against this background, then Christ’s proclamation to them after his death and resurrection may simply have been that their “prison,” or “refuge,” was no longer inviolate. They too, like all other powers in the universe,
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