Matthew 4:24

Sick people - Τους, κακως εχοντας , those who felt ill - were afflicted with any species of malady.

And torments - βασανοις , from βασανιζω , to examine by torture, such as cholics, gouts, and rheumatisms, which racked every joint.

Possessed with devils - Daemoniacs. Persons possessed by evil spirits. This is certainly the plain obvious meaning of daemoniac in the Gospels.

Many eminent men think that the sacred writers accommodated themselves to the unfounded prejudices of the common people, in attributing certain diseases to the influence of evil spirits, which were merely the effects of natural causes: but that this explanation can never comport with the accounts given of these persons shall be proved as the places occur.

Our common version, which renders the word, those possessed by devils, is not strictly correct; as the word devil, διαβολος , is not found in the plural in any part of the Sacred Writings, when speaking of evil spirits: for though there are multitudes of daemons, Mark 5:9 , yet it appears there is but one Devil, who seems to be supreme, or head, over all the rest. Διαβολος signifies an accuser or slanderer, 1 Timothy 3:11 ; 2 Timothy 3:3 ; Titus 2:3 . Perhaps Satan was called so,

1st. because he accused or slandered God in paradise, as averse from the increase of man's knowledge and happiness, Genesis 3:5 ; John 8:44 ; and