Messiah’s Authority Challenged

²³ When He entered the temple complex,^(A) the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”^(B)

²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?”

They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’^{(C) 26} But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd,^(D) because everyone thought John was a prophet.”^{(E) 27} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And He 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.”