Mark 3:22

Verse

And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, ” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.

Bible in Basic English

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, He has Beelzebub, and, By the ruler of evil spirits he sends evil spirits out of men.

Free Bible Version

But the religious leaders from Jerusalem said, “He's possessed by Beelzebub! It's by the ruler of demons that he's driving out demons!”

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Scribes which came downe from Hierusalem, saide, He hath Beelzebub, and through the prince of the deuils he casteth out deuils.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

One Unity Resource Bible

The Torah-Teachers who came down from Jerusalem [City of peace] said, “He has Ba'al-Zibbul [Lord of Flies],” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

Plain English Version

Some teachers of the Jewish law that were from Jerusalem were there in that place. They said, “The boss over all the bad spirits is living inside Jesus. That bad spirit boss is called Beelzebul, and he is also called Satan. He is the one that gives Jesus the power to force bad spirits out of people.”

Translation for Translators

Around that time some men who taught the Jewish laws came down from Jerusalem city. They heard that Jesus was expelling demons. So they were telling people, “Beelzebub, who rules the evil spirits, controls him. He is the one who enables this man to expel evil spirits from people!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul” and “By the ruler of the demons he drives out demons.”

Noah Webster Bible

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the demons he casteth out demons.

World English Bible

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

Young's Literal Translation

and the scribes who [are] from Jerusalem having come down, said — 'He hath Beelzeboul,' and — 'By the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'

Context

A House Divided

²¹When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.” ²²And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, ” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

Sermons

God's Rejection - Reprobation

Rolfe Barnard

760

Day 68, Mark 3

David Servant

Summary

In Mark 3:22, the scribes accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This accusation reflects the growing opposition and disbelief among the religious leaders towards Jesus' ministry. Jesus responds by explaining the absurdity of Satan casting out his own demons, highlighting the illogical nature of their accusation. This interaction reveals the spiritual warfare at play and Jesus' authority over the demonic realm, affirming His divine power and mission on earth.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

He hath Beelzebub - See on Mat 12:24-26 (note).

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

I. Here is, The impudent impious brand which the scribes fastened upon Christ's casting out devils, that they might evade and invalidate the conviction of it, and have a poor excuse for not yielding to it. These scribes came down from Jerusalem, Mar 3:22. It should seem they came this long journey on purpose to hinder the progress of the doctrine of Christ; such pains did they take to do mischief; and, coming from Jerusalem, where were the most polite and learned scribes, and where they had opportunity of consulting together against the Lord and his Anointed, they were in the greater capacity to do mischief; the reputation of scribes from Jerusalem would have an influence not only upon the country people, but upon the country scribes; they had never thought of this base suggestion concerning Christ's miracles till the scribes from Jerusalem put it into their heads. They could not deny but that he cast out devils, which plainly bespoke him sent of God; but they insinuated that he had Beelzebub on his side, was in league with him, and by the prince of the devils cast out devils. There is a trick in the case; Satan is not cast out, he only goes out by consent. There was nothing in the manner of Christ's casting out devils, that gave any cause to suspect this; he did it as one having authority; but so they will have it, who resolve not to believe him. II. The rational answer which Christ gave to this objection, demonstrating the absurdity of it. 1. Satan is so subtle, that he will never voluntarily quit his possession; If Satan cast out Satan, his kingdom is divided against itself, and it cannot stand, Mar 3:23-26. He called them to him, as one desirous they should be convinced; he treated them with all the freedom, friendliness, and familiarity that could be; he vouchsafed to reason the case with them, that every mouth may be stopped. It was plain that the doctrine of Christ made war upon the devil's kingdom, and had a direct tendency to break his power, and crush his interest in the souls of men; and it was as plain that the casting of him out of the bodies of people confirmed that doctrine, and gave it the setting on; and therefore it cannot be imagined that he should come into such a design; every one knows that Satan is no fool, nor will act so directly against his own interest. 2. Christ is so wise, that, being engaged in war with him, he will attack his forces wherever he meets them, whether in the bodies or souls of people, Mar 3:27. It is plain, Christ's design is to enter into the strong man's house, to take possession of the interest he has in the world, and to spoil his goods, and convert them to his own service; and therefore it is natural to suppose that he will thus bind the strong man, will forbid him to speak when he would, and to stay where he would, and thus show that he has gained a victory over him. III. The awful warning Christ gave them to take heed how they spoke such dangerous words as these; however they might make light of them, as only conjectures, and the language of free-thinking, if they persisted in it, it would be of fatal consequence to them; it would be found a sin against the last remedy, and consequently unpardonable; for what could be imagined possible to bring them to repentance for their sin in blaspheming Christ, who would set aside such a strong conviction with such a weak evasion? It is true, the gospel promiseth, because Christ hath purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners, Mar 3:28. Many of those who reviled Christ on the cross (which was a blaspheming of the Son of man, aggravated to the highest degree), found mercy, and Christ himself prayed, Father, forgive them; but this was blaspheming the Holy Ghost, for it was by the Holy Spirit that he cast out devils, and they said, It was by the unclean spirit, Mar 3:30. By this method they would outface the conviction of all the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension, and defeat them all, after which there remained no more proof, and therefore they should never have forgiveness, but were liable to eternal damnation. They were in imminent danger of that everlasting punishment, from which there was no redemption, and in which there was no intermission, no remission.

Mark 3:22

A House Divided

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, ” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.

Bible in Basic English

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, He has Beelzebub, and, By the ruler of evil spirits he sends evil spirits out of men.

Free Bible Version

But the religious leaders from Jerusalem said, “He's possessed by Beelzebub! It's by the ruler of demons that he's driving out demons!”

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Scribes which came downe from Hierusalem, saide, He hath Beelzebub, and through the prince of the deuils he casteth out deuils.

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

One Unity Resource Bible

The Torah-Teachers who came down from Jerusalem [City of peace] said, “He has Ba'al-Zibbul [Lord of Flies],” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul” and “By the ruler of the demons he drives out demons.”

Noah Webster Bible

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem, said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the demons he casteth out demons.

World English Bible

The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

Young's Literal Translation

and the scribes who [are] from Jerusalem having come down, said — 'He hath Beelzeboul,' and — 'By the ruler of the demons he doth cast out the demons.'

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

He hath Beelzebub - See on Mat 12:24-26 (note).

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Mark 3:22

Verse

Context

A House Divided

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Mark 3:22

A House Divided

God's Rejection - Reprobation

Day 68, Mark 3

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew Henry Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes