Section 11:14–23

Jesus proved that he did not use Satan’s power

This section is not explicitly connected with the preceding section in time, place, or theme.

In this section, Jesus cast out a demon that made a man mute (11:14). Some people who were there commented to each other that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan (11:15). Jesus gave them two reasons why this could not be true (11:17–19). He concluded that he cast out demons by the power of God (11:20). Then he told a parable (11:21–22) that showed that he is stronger than Satan.

Some other headings for this section are:

Jesus is stronger than Satan
-or-
Jesus and Beelzebub
-or-
Jesus sends unclean spirits away by defeating Satan

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 12:22–30 and Mark 3:20–27.

Paragraph 11:14–16

11:14a

One day: This verse introduces a new story, but it does not provide any information about where or when the story occurred. In some languages, an introductory word or phrase is necessary to show that a new story is beginning. The Berean Standard Bible adds One day to show this. Other ways to translate this are:

One time (New Century Version)
-or-
Another time (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

Luke 11:14a does not specifically mention the man who had an unclean spirit. In some languages, it will be more natural to introduce this man. For example:

There was a man who had an unclean spirit. This unclean spirit made him mute. One day, Jesus drove out this unclean spirit…

Jesus was driving out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was driving out is literally “was casting/throwing out.” To drive out an unclean spirit means to cause the unclean spirit to stop controlling the person. Jesus did this by commanding the demon to leave.

Jewish people often spoke of unclean spirits as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language. Some ways to translate this are:

sent away
-or-
exorcized/expelled
-or-
caused to leave

a demon that was mute: The phrase a demon that was mute refers to an unclean spirit that caused a person to be mute or not able to speak. When that demon was in a person, one of the results was that the person could not speak. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a demon from a man who couldn’t speak (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The demon had made the man unable to talk. (God’s Word)

This phrase does not mean that the demon itself was mute.

demon: The word demon also occurs in 9:1b. See the note there for information about translating this term. See also demon in the Glossary.

11:14b

And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke: In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit that the demon left or came out of the man who had been mute. For example:

The demon came out from the mute man, who then began to speak

11:14c

The crowds were amazed: The crowds have not been mentioned in this story up to this point. In some languages you may need to introduce them by saying something like:

there were a lot of people ⌊watching⌋, and they were amazed

amazed: The word amazed means “marveled,” “astonished,” or “surprised.” The people were astonished that Jesus was able to make the mute man able to speak.

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