²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,^(A) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”^(B)

²⁵ Jesus knew their thoughts^(C) and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan^(D) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

²³ So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:^(A) “How can Satan^(B) drive out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

¹⁷ Jesus knew their thoughts^(A) and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. ¹⁸ If Satan^(B) is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.