3:15
and: The conjunction translated as and joins the two things that Jesus sent the twelve apostles to do. They were (a) to preach and (b) have authority to drive out demons.
have authority to drive out demons:
There is a textual issue in 3:15: (1) Some Greek manuscripts have “and have authority to drive out demons.” For example, the NET Bible says: “and to have authority to cast out demons” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have “and have authority
to heal the sick and to drive out demons.” For example, the King James Version says: “And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils” (King James Version). It is recommended that you follow option (1).) The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as authority refers here to both the right and the power to do something. In this context, Jesus gave his twelve apostles the power to command evil spirits to release people that they controlled.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
the power/right to command evil spirits to leave people
-or-
authority to cast out demons (New Living Translation)
to drive out demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to drive out is literally “to cast/throw out.” To drive out demons means to cause evil spirits to stop controlling a person. The apostles would do this by commanding the evil spirits to leave.
Jewish people often spoke of evil 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.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
send the demons away
-or-
exorcize the evil spirits
-or-
free people who were controlled by evil spirits
See the notes on “and drove out many demons” in 1:34b.
demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demons refers to spirits that are evil and can control people’s actions. This Greek word refers to the same type of spirits as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirits” and “unclean spirits.”
See the note on “unclean spirits” at 3:11a. Also see evil spirit in the Glossary.
Paragraph 3:16–19
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