The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)

²³ Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority^(B) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a](A) to Caesar or not?”