^23 (A)And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in ^(B)parables, “How can ^(C)Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶ If ^(D)Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but ^[a]he is finished! ^27 (E)But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.

^17 (A)But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “^[a]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against ^[b]itself falls. ¹⁸ If ^(B)Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by ^(C)Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I by ^(D)Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I cast out demons by the ^(E)finger of God, then ^(F)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When ^[c]a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are ^[d]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.