A Kingdom Divided

^14 (A)And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. Now it happened that when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds marveled. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He casts out demons ^(B)by ^(C)Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” ¹⁶ And others, testing Him, ^(D)were seeking from Him ^[a]a sign from heaven. ^17 (E)But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “^[b]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against ^[c]itself falls. ¹⁸ But if ^(F)Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by ^(G)Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I by ^(H)Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I cast out demons by the ^(I)finger of God, then ^(J)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When ^[d]a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are ^[e]undisturbed. ²² But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. ^23 (K)He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.