A House Divided

14 Now(A) he was driving out a demon(B) that was mute.(C) When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul,(D) the ruler(E) of the demons.”(F) 16 And others, as a test,(G) were demanding of him a sign(H) from heaven.

17 Knowing their thoughts,(I) he told them, “Every kingdom divided(J) against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan(K) also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom(L) stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons(M) drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God,(N) then the kingdom of God(O) has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers(P) him, he takes from him all his weapons[a](Q) he trusted(R) in, and divides up his plunder.(S) 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me,(T) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:22 Gk panoplia, the armor and weapons of a foot soldier; Eph 6:11,13

A House Divided Cannot Stand

14 And he was expelling a mute demon.[a] Now it happened that when[b] the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul the ruler of demons he expels demons!” 16 And others, in order to[c] test him,[d] were demanding from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household[e] falls. 18 So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I expel demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel them?[f] For this reason they will be your judges! 20 But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you! 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.[g] 22 But when a stronger man attacks him and[h] conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. 23 The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:14 Some manuscripts have “a demon, and it was mute”
  2. Luke 11:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came out”)
  3. Luke 11:16 Here “in order to” is supplied as a component of the participle (“test”) which is understood as purpose
  4. Luke 11:16 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  5. Luke 11:17 Literally “house against house”
  6. Luke 11:19 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Luke 11:21 Literally “in peace”
  8. Luke 11:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“attacks”) has been translated as a finite verb