Mark 3:17-27

17 James and John, Zebedee's sons, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, which means "sons of Thunder";

18 and Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, Alphaeus' son; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean;

19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

Misunderstandings about Jesus

20 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat.

21 When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, "He's out of his mind!"

22 The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, "He's possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons."

23 When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: " How can Satan throw Satan out?

24 A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse.

25 And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse.

26 If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can't endure. He's done for.

27 No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized.

Footnotes

• [a] Or zealot