The unclean spirit uses the singular when he speaks about himself (“I know who you are”). Together with the dismissive formula (What have you to do with us?
) and the allusion to Nazareth, the use of the plural must make an impression on the people of Capernaum that are gathered in the synagogue. The unclean spirit stands up for them. Together with Van der Loos1 (and Lane2 among others) we believe that this explanation of the plural is to be preferred over the idea of more than one demon. Only one unclean spirit is present and his appearance in the synagogue tends to identify him with the audience.3
24 Qu'y a-t-il entre nous et toi, Jésus de Nazareth? Tu es venu pour nous perdre. Je sais qui tu es: le Saint de Dieu.