Study Desk

One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"

"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"

He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,

He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me:

John's baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?"

John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?"

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will ask, ‘Why didn't you believe him?'

But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

But if we say, ‘Of human origin,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."