Messiah’s Authority Challenged

²⁷ They^(A) came again to Jerusalem.^(B) As He was walking in the temple complex,^(C) the chief priests, the scribes,^(D) and the elders^(E) came ²⁸ and asked Him, “By what authority^(F) are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;^(G) then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ Was John’s baptism^(H) from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”

³¹ They began to argue among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe^(I) him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From men’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.^{(J) 33} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 One^(A) day^[a] as He was teaching^(B) the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news,^(C) the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders,^(D) came up ² and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

³ He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, ⁴ was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people^(E) will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”^(F)

⁷ So they answered that they did not know its origin.^[b]

⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”