Jesus and Beelzebul

11:14,15,17–22,24–26pp—Mt 12:22,24–29,43–45
11:17–22pp—Mk 3:23–27

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.k 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul,l the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”m 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.n

17 Jesus knew their thoughtso and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satanp is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God,q then the kingdom of Godr has come upon you.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.