But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The accusers here couldn't deny the power at work, but they twisted it, claiming Jesus was in league with the "prince of demons." This wasn't just a random insult; it was a deliberate attempt to discredit him by associating his divine works with the ultimate evil, revealing their stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's power right in front of them.
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just cast a demon out of a man who was mute, and the man's ability to speak amazes the crowd. However, religious leaders, specifically some Pharisees and scribes, refuse to acknowledge God's power at work. Instead, they whisper an accusation that Jesus is actually working with the prince of demons, Beelzebul.
Jesus performs an incredible miracle, healing a man possessed by a demon. The crowd is amazed, but some religious leaders twist the situation into a horrifying accusation: He's in league with Satan himself!
This accusation, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons," wasn't just a random insult. It was a calculated smear campaign.
A Desperate Defense
The religious authorities were witnessing undeniable power – a demon being expelled, and a man being freed. They couldn't deny the miracle, so they had to discredit the miracle-worker.
The Name Game
'Beelzebul' was a loaded name. It likely referred to a Philistine deity known as the 'Lord of the Flies.' By calling Jesus' power 'Beelzebul,' they were associating Him with a pagan idol and implying His miracles came from the darkest, most despised spiritual forces. It was an attempt to shock and disgust the public, turning admiration into suspicion.
The Ultimate Reversal
Instead of acknowledging God's power working through Jesus, they accused Him of using the very power He was fighting against. It's a classic tactic: misdirect, demonize, and deny the truth.
Jesus just performed a powerful act of deliverance, yet a specific group immediately resorts to slander. How could they witness such goodness and respond with such malice?
The reaction of these leaders reveals a deep spiritual blindness rooted in their rejection of Jesus.
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Seeing Without Seeing
Even though the crowd was astonished and questioning Jesus' identity (Is this not the Son of David?), the leaders refused to open their eyes. They saw the power, but refused to acknowledge its divine source. They were spiritually hardened, unable to recognize God's presence even when it was right before them.
Malice Over Truth
Their accusation wasn't an honest question; it was a deliberate attempt to thwart Jesus' ministry and protect their own authority. They chose slander over truth, envy over the advance of God's kingdom. This shows how fear and pride can blind people to even the most obvious displays of God's power.
The Deeper Issue
Jesus' response later in the chapter (Luke 11:17-23) points out that a kingdom divided cannot stand. Accusing Him of using demonic power to cast out demons was illogical and exposed their own spiritual deadness. They were so consumed with opposing Jesus that they missed the liberating work God was doing.
Understand the original words
Beelzeboul · Greek Proper Noun
A title or name for the leader of the demonic forces, identifying him as the adversary of God and the source of spiritual opposition; it represents the realm of darkness and corruption.
archōn · Greek Noun
A term denoting one who holds authority, sovereignty, or preeminence. In a spiritual context, it signifies the leader or chief ruler over a hierarchical structure of demonic power.
c. 8th Century BC
Cult of Beelzebub in Philistia
The name Beelzebub likely originates from a Philistine deity worshipped in cities like Ekron, meaning 'Lord of the Flies.' This idol was likely invoked to ward off insect pests.
c. 8th Century BC
Biblical Condemnation of Beelzebub
The prophet Elijah confronts King Ahaziah of Judah concerning his inquiry of the god of Ekron, referring to it as 'Beelzebub.' This marks an early biblical association of the name with a foreign, false deity.
c. 1st Century AD
Jewish Scribes and Pharisees Investigating Jesus
Religious authorities, including scribes from Jerusalem and Pharisees, were actively monitoring Jesus' ministry. They were sent to observe and, if possible, discredit his teachings and miracles.
c. 1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus Casts Out a Demon
Jesus performs a powerful miracle, expelling a demon from a man who was mute. The man regains his speech and the crowd is astonished, questioning if Jesus might be the Messiah.
c. 1st Century AD
Accusation of Demonic Power
In response to Jesus' miracle, some religious leaders dismiss the power of God at work. They whisper among themselves that Jesus is channeling demonic power, specifically accusing him of working through 'Beelzebul, the prince of demons.'
This passage presents the same accusation leveled against Jesus by the Pharisees, highlighting their persistent resistance to His miraculous works and attributing His power to demonic sources.
Mark 3:22Mark's Gospel records the scribes from Jerusalem making the same charge, emphasizing that these religious authorities, sent specifically to scrutinize Jesus, twisted His divine power into evidence of demonic alliance.
1 Samuel 17:45David's confrontation with Goliath shows him appealing to the name of the Lord of Hosts, a stark contrast to the accusation leveled against Jesus, who was using God's power openly but was accused of partnering with the 'prince of demons'.
John 8:48Jesus directly addresses accusations of being a Samaritan and having a demon, revealing that His accusers were often blinded by prejudice and unwilling to recognize His divine mission, just as the accusers in Luke 11 were.
Romans 1:22Paul describes those who 'supposed themselves to be wise' but became fools, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, which mirrors the intellectual blindness of Jesus' accusers who attributed His divine power to Satan.
vincentLuke 11:15: "But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils."
BeelzebubSee on Matthew 10:25.
calvinLuke 11:14-15: "And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered."
- Then was brought to him one who was tormented by a devil, blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the blind and dumb person both spoke and saw. 23. And all the multitudes were astonished, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24. But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub prince of…
The accusers here couldn't deny the power at work, but they twisted it, claiming Jesus was in league with the "prince of demons." This wasn't just a random insult; it was a deliberate attempt to discredit him by associating his divine works with the ultimate evil, revealing their stubborn refusal to acknowledge God's power right in front of them.
Jesus has just cast a demon out of a man who was mute, and the man's ability to speak amazes the crowd. However, religious leaders, specifically some Pharisees and scribes, refuse to acknowledge God's power at work. Instead, they whisper an accusation that Jesus is actually working with the prince of demons, Beelzebul.
Jesus has just cast a demon out of a man who was mute, and the man's ability to speak amazes the crowd. However, religious leaders, specifically some Pharisees and scribes, refuse to acknowledge God's power at work. Instead, they whisper an accusation that Jesus is actually working with the prince of demons, Beelzebul.
"But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,”" — The accusers here couldn't deny the power at work, but they twisted it, claiming Jesus was in league with the "prince of demons." This wasn't just a random insult; it was a deliberate attempt to disc…
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Last reviewed October 2026