Paragraph 3:22–30
In the previous paragraph, Jesus’ family decided that it was time to bring him home and restrain him. This paragraph continues Mark’s theme of people opposing Jesus. Here, Jesus’ enemies did not want to admit that Jesus was doing miracles by God’s power. So they accused him of using Satan’s power instead. Jesus had a good answer to give to them.
3:22a
And: This verse is the beginning of a new part of the story. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this new part of the story with the word And. Many English versions have no connecting word here.
You should begin this part of the story in a way that is natural in your language.
the scribes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the scribes is sometimes translated as “teachers of the law,” as in the New International Version. The original work of these men was to copy the laws of Moses by hand. In New Testament times, their main task was to study, interpret, and teach the law of Moses and related Jewish laws and traditions.
Here are some other ways to translate this term:
teachers of the Law of Moses (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation)
-or-
experts on the law
This term also occurs in 1:22c. See how you translated the term there. See also teacher of the law in the Glossary.
3:22b
who had come down from Jerusalem: The teachers of the law came from Jerusalem. This probably indicates that they were the leading authorities of the Jewish religion.
had come down: The city of Jerusalem was built on a hill. So anyone leaving the city had to walk down the hill to a place that was lower in elevation.
In some languages, it is important to say whether people go up or down when they travel. In other languages, this will be unusual or may be confusing. If it is confusing in your language, you should simply say:
who had come from Jerusalem (Good News Bible)
Jerusalem: Jerusalem was the most important city for the Jewish people. It was the main city in their history and religion.
were saying: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were saying introduces a direct quote. For an example of a translation using an indirect quote, see the General Comment on 3:22c–d following 3:22d.
3:22c
He is possessed by: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He is possessed by is literally “he has,” as in the New Revised Standard Version. This is the Jewish way of saying that a person is “controlled” by an evil spirit. In this context the teachers of the law said that Jesus was controlled by Beelzebub, a powerful evil spirit. (See the note on Beelzebub below.) They also said that Jesus was using Beelzebub’s power to drive other evil spirits out of people.
Some languages may use different expressions to describe different types of demon possession. Use an appropriate expression in your language to describe someone who uses the power of an evil spirit to do things.
Here are some other ways to translate He is possessed by in this context:
He is controlled by…
-or-
This man uses the power of…
See evil spirit in the Glossary.
Beelzebul: The meaning of this word is uncertain. Jesus’ enemies were using this word as a name for Satan, the leader of the evil spirits. It is recommended that you transliterate it as Beelzebul, because that is close to the Greek text.
Here are some other ways to translate Beelzebul:
• Transliterate the name Beelzebul into your language.
• Use the name for Satan in your language.
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
the chief of the evil spirits
-or-
the evil spirits’ king
-or-
the leader of the evil spirits
• Use the name Beelzebul or Satan plus a descriptive phrase. For example, the New Living Translation says:
He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons.
3:22d
By the prince of the demons He drives out demons: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as By the prince of demons indicates that Jesus cast out demons using the power of the prince of demons.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
It is the chief of the demons who gives him the power to drive them out. (Good News Bible)
-or-
He uses power from the ruler of demons to force demons out of people. (New Century Version)
-or-
He is even forcing out demons with the help of Beelzebul. (Contemporary English Version)
the prince of the demons: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the prince of demons is literally “the ruler/chief of demons” (as in the New Revised Standard Version). This phrase explains what the teachers of the law meant by the word Beelzebul.
In your translation, make sure that it is clear that “Beelzebul” and “the prince of demons” refer to the same being.
demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demons refers to spirits that are evil and can control people’s actions. The word demons refers to the same type of spirit as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirits” and “unclean spirits.” See how you translated this term in 3:11a.
He: The pronoun He refers to Jesus.
drives out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drives out indicates that Jesus was causing many evil spirits to stop controlling people. See the notes on 1:34b and 3:15.
General Comment on 3:22c–d
The Berean Standard Bible translates 3:22c–d as a direct quote. In some languages, it will be more natural to translate this as an indirect quote. For example:
They said that Satan was in/controlling Jesus. It was Satan, the chief of demons who was giving Jesus the power to cast/throw out the demons.
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