Section 3:20–30
Jesus proved that he did not use Satan’s power
It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus is stronger than Satan
-or-
Jesus sends evil spirits away by defeating Satan
-or-
Do not insult the Holy Spirit
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 12:22–32 and Luke 11:14–23; 12:10.
Paragraph 3:20–21
3:20a
Then Jesus went home: English versions differ as to the verse in which the clause Then Jesus went home should be included:
(1) Most translations and the UBS Handbook Greek text place this clause at the beginning of 3:20. For example, the New International Version says:
19…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.
(New International Version, Berean Standard Bible, Good News Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word)
(2) Some translations place this clause at the end of 3:19. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:
19…and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Then he went home; 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.
(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), because this clause provides the setting for the next story (3:20–30).
Then: This verse is the beginning of a new story. The events in this story happened sometime after the events in the preceding section. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this story with the word Then. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two stories.
It may be natural in your language to begin a story with a time word or phrase. If that is true, use an expression that is not too specific. For example:
After that
In some languages, a time word or phrase is not necessary. Introduce this story in a natural way in your language.
home: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as home is literally “house.” Scholars differ as to which house this was:
(1) This was the house in Capernaum in which Jesus and his disciples usually stayed. This house could be considered Jesus’ home. For example:
Then Jesus went home. (Good News Bible)
-or-
Jesus returned to the house where he was staying (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, 1996 edition, New Century Version)
(2) This was no specific house. For example, the Revised English Bible says:
He entered a house (Revised English Bible)
(New International Version, Revised English Bible, King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The majority of English versions understand it to refer to the house where Jesus normally lived when he was in Capernaum. See also 2:1b, where the same house is probably mentioned.
3:20b
once again: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as once again can also be translated as “once more.” This was not the first time that a crowd had gathered together to see Jesus.
Here is another way to translate this:
Another crowd gathered (God’s Word)
a crowd gathered: The clause a crowd gathered means that “many people came” to the house.
3:20c
so that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that introduces the result of the crowd coming to the house. So many people came to the house that Jesus was not able to eat.
Here are some others ways to translate this:
such a large crowd gathered that there was no chance even to eat (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Because of the crowd, Jesus and his disciples were not able to eat.
-or-
A crowd gathered again. That is why Jesus and his disciples did not have time to eat.
He and His disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He and His disciples is literally “they” (as in the Revised Standard Version). Most scholars believe that the “they” refers to Jesus and his disciples.
could not even eat: Jesus and his disciples were not able to eat because they were so busy teaching and helping all the people who had come.
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