Study Desk

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

"By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

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

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

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

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

But if we say, 'From men'...." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

But if we say, ‘Of human origin' …" (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."