23. All the people were amazed. They said, “Perhaps this man is the Son of David!”
24. The Pharisees heard the people saying this. The Pharisees said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul to force demons out of people. Beelzebul is the ruler of demons.”
25. Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that is fighting against itself will be destroyed. And every city that is divided will fall. And every family that is divided cannot succeed.
26. So if Satan forces out his own demons, then Satan is divided, and his kingdom will not continue.
27. You say that I use the power of Satan when I force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use when they force out demons? So your own people prove that you are wrong.
28. But if I use the power of God’s Spirit to force out demons, this shows that the kingdom of God has come to you.
29. “If anyone wants to enter a strong man’s house and steal his things, first he must tie up the strong man. Then he can steal the things from the strong man’s house.