²⁷ They came again to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking around in the house of God. The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and other leaders came to Him. ²⁸ They asked, “How do You have the right and the power to do these things? Who gave You the right and the power to do them?” ²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing also. If you tell Me, then I will tell you by what right and power I do these things. ³⁰ Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Tell Me.” ³¹ They talked among themselves. They said, “If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ ³² But how can we say, ‘From men’?” They were afraid of the people because everyone believed that John was one who spoke for God. ³³ So they said, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said, “Then I will not tell you by what right and power I do these things.”

They Ask Jesus Who Gave Him the Power to Do These Things ^(A)

20 As He was teaching and preaching the Good News, the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and the elders came. ² They said to Him, “Tell us, by what right and power are You doing these things? Who gave You the right and the power?” ³ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question also. You answer Me. ⁴ Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

⁵ They said to themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ then all the people will throw stones at us because they believe John was one who spoke for God.” ⁷ They said that they did not know where John’s baptism came from. ⁸ Jesus said to them, “And I will not tell you where I get the right and the power to do these things.”