Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, saying, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

²⁴ And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say to us, Why then have ye not believed him? ²⁶ but if we should say, Of men, we fear the crowd, for all hold John for a prophet. ²⁷ And answering Jesus they said, We do not know. He also said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he walked about in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders come to him, ²⁸ and they say to him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority, that thou shouldest do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: ³⁰ The baptism of John, was it of heaven, or of men? answer me.

³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why then have ye not believed him? ³² but should we say, Of men they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet. ³³ And they answering say to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus answering says to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

¹ And it came to pass on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and announcing the glad tidings, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up, ² and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?

³ And he answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, and tell me: ⁴ The baptism of John, was it of heaven or of men?

⁵ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him? ⁶ but if we should say, Of men, the whole people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

⁷ And they answered, they did not know whence.

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