Mark 1:21-25

Questions

As the context suggests, the "scribes" of verse 22 doesn't refer to someone who merely writes things down. The Greek word translated as "scribes" here is grammateus, which is generally translated today as "teachers of the law," "experts on the law" or something similar.

Verse 22: Apparently it was the custom in those days, as it is today, for those teaching to quote the "general authorities" of the day, or of scriptures, to lend their support to what they taught. But Jesus acted as, and was seen as, one who himself had the authority to teach doctrine.

Verse 24, perhaps in answer to the question of why the spirit speaks in first-person plural: It seems clear from the pronouns used in the surrounding verses that this is one spirit, not several. Why then use the plural? If we see these words as spoken through a person in the synagogue, then perhaps at first the spirit was trying to set up a local dispute: "Let us alone! Why are you trying to come here and stir up trouble with new ideas? You're an outsider! Go away!" But then quickly, the spirit escalates into accusing and then revealing Christ's identity, something He didn't want known yet (see verse 24).