11:15a

but some of them said: This clause contrasts some of the people in the crowd with the crowd in general. Most of the people were amazed. The smaller group in the crowd spoke to each other, not directly to Jesus. In some languages, it may be clearer to make this explicit. For example:

But some people ⌊in the crowd⌋ said ⌊to each other⌋
-or-
But some of them said ⌊about Jesus⌋

This group is a different group than the “others” in 11:16 who asked Jesus directly for a sign.

11:15b

It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible transliterates as Beelzebul was the name of a pagan god. The people were using it to refer to Satan.

Some ways to translate this are:

• Transliterate the Greek term. The actual Greek term here is best transliterated as Beelzebul (as in the Berean Standard Bible and most English versions). Some English versions, such as the New International Version and King James Version, have used “Beelzebub” in order to conform to 2 Kings 1:2. If you transliterate this term, it is recommended that you follow the Greek form, Beelzebul.

• Use your word for Satan to replace Beelzebul each time it occurs in this passage. For example:

He gets his power from Satan (New Living Translation (2004))

It is also recommended that you include a footnote the first time this word occurs. For example:

Beelzebul is another name for Satan.

If you use the word “Satan” instead of “Beelzebul” in 11:15, 11:18b, and 11:19a, it is recommended that you include a footnote at 11:15. For example:

In the Greek of this passage, Satan is actually called “Beelzebul.” “Beelzebul” was the name of a pagan god, and people also used this name to refer to Satan.

by Beelzebul: The phrase by Beelzebul means “using the power of Beelzebul.” The people were accusing Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul to cast unclean spirits out of people. They did not believe that Jesus did this by the power of God. Some other ways to translate this idea are:

with the help of Beelzebul (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul…to force demons out of people. (New Century Version)
-or-
It is Beelzebul…who gives him the power to drive them out. (Good News Translation)

the prince of the demons: The phrase the prince of the demons means “the leader of the unclean spirits.” This was a reference to Satan, the devil. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the ruler of demons (God’s Word)
-or-
the chief of the evil spirits (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

See demon in the Glossary.

11:15c

drives out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drives out means to cause or force a demon to leave a person. This is the same verb as in 11:14a.

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