Luke 11:14-23

Expanded Bible

Jesus’ Power Is from God^(A)

¹⁴ One time Jesus was ·sending [driving; casting] out a demon ·who could not talk [or who was making a man mute]. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The ·people were [crowd was] amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul [^Canother name for Satan], the ruler of demons, to ·force [drive; cast] demons out of people.”

¹⁶ Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom that is ·divided against [at war with] itself ·will be destroyed [is doomed/heading for ruin]. And a ·family [^Lhouse] that is ·divided against [at war with] itself will ·not continue [^Lfall]. ¹⁸ So if Satan is divided against himself, ·his kingdom will not continue [^Lhow will his kingdom stand?]. [^LFor] You say that I use the power of Beelzebul [v. 15] to ·force [drive; cast] out demons. ¹⁹ But if I use the power of Beelzebul to ·force [drive; cast] out demons, what power do your ·people [own exorcists; followers; ^Lsons] use to ·force [drive; cast] demons out? So they will ·be your judges. ²⁰ But if I use the ·power [^Lfinger] of God to ·force [drive; cast] out demons, then the kingdom of God has ·come to [arrived among] you.

²¹ “When a strong person ·with many weapons [fully armed] guards his own ·house [villa; or palace; ^Ca large building with a courtyard], his possessions are safe. ²² But when someone stronger comes and ·defeats [overpowers; conquers] him, the stronger one will take away the ·weapons [armor] ·the first man trusted [on which he relied] and will ·give away the possessions [^Ldivide his plunder].

²³ “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not ·work [^Lgather] with me ·is working against me [scatters; ^Cthe metaphor is probably to gathering or scattering a flock; John 10:12].