The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
17 James, son of Zebedee, John, brother of James (Jesus nicknamed the Zebedee brothers Boanerges, meaning "Sons of Thunder"),
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James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”),
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Canaanite,
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Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
19 Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him).
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and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
20 Jesus came home and, as usual, a crowd gathered - so many making demands on him that there wasn't even time to eat.
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Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.
21 His friends heard what was going on and went to rescue him, by force if necessary. They suspected he was getting carried away with himself.
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When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
22 The religion scholars from Jerusalem came down spreading rumors that he was working black magic, using devil tricks to impress them with spiritual power.
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And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
23 Jesus confronted their slander with a story: "Does it make sense to send a devil to catch a devil, to use Satan to get rid of Satan?
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So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
24 A constantly squabbling family disintegrates. If Satan were fighting Satan, there soon wouldn't be any Satan left.
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If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
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If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
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And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.
27 Do you think it's possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man, and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.
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In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.