Colossians 2:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And having spoiled, &c.— By principalities and powers are generally understood the fallen angels; our spiritual enemies. The Apostle alludes to the custom of conquerors, who in their triumphs made a shew of their captives. See 2 Chronicles 2:14Col 2:14.Ephesians 4:8. Instead of in or by it, i.e. the cross, whereby these spiritual enemies hoped to have triumphed over Christ, some would read in or by him; i.e. Christ. Dr. Whitby observes, that Cerinthus and Simon Magus, whose doctrines he imagines the Apostle is here opposing, pretended to deliver men from the power of evil spirits, by whom they said the world was made and governed.