Matthew 12:22-24 At that time people brought to Him a man continuously affected and controlled by a demon (a Hellenistic concept and term; = an animistic influence) – blind and mute (incapable of speaking). And so He treated and cured him, so that the mute man began to be repeatedly speaking and continuously seeing.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ²² At that time people brought to Him a man continuously affected and controlled by a demon (a Hellenistic concept and term; = an animistic influence) – blind and mute (incapable of speaking). And so He treated and cured him, so that the mute man [began] to be repeatedly speaking and continuously seeing. ²³ Well, all the crowds began being set out of place (or: being made to stand out of themselves) in amazement, and began saying, "Is not this one perhaps the son of David?" ²⁴ Now upon hearing, the Pharisees said, "This person is not casting (or: throwing) out the demons except in union with Beelzebub [other MSS: Beelzebul; Beezeboul], the ruler (or: chief; originator) of the demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences)." [comment: Beelzebub, is the NT spelling for Baal-zebub, a Philistine deity (2 King 1:2). So here we have the Pharisees validating the existence of a pagan god! And yet, we are told in Ps. 95:5 that “all the gods of the peoples (= people groups) are mere idols (nobodies; things of naught).” The LXX (Greek OT) renders this: “all the gods of the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Israelites) {are} demons.” But Isaiah says in 65:3 (LXX), “This is a people that '85 offer{s} sacrifices in gardens, and burn{s} incense on bricks to the demons – which things DO NOT EXIST!”]