Jesus is Accused of Working with Beelzebul^(A)

¹⁴ Jesus^[a] was driving a demon out of a man who was^[b] unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man^[c] began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” ¹⁶ Others, wanting to test Jesus,^[d] kept asking him for a sign from heaven.

¹⁷ Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses.^{[e] 18} Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers^[f] drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the power^[g] of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

²¹ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe. ²² But when a stronger man than he attacks and defeats him, the stronger man^[h] strips off that man’s armor in which he trusted and then divides his plunder.

²³ “The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”