Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

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

²⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a word, which if ye tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, where was it from? from heaven or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? ²⁶ But if we shall say, Of men, we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. ²⁷ And they answered Jesus and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁷ And they returned to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the princes of the priests and the scribes and the elders came ²⁸ and said unto him, By what faculty doest thou these things? and who gave thee this faculty to do these things?

²⁹ Then Jesus, answering, said unto them, I will also ask of you one word, and respond unto me, and I will tell you with what faculty I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John, was it of heaven or of men? Respond unto me.

³¹ Then they thought inside themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ³² But if we shall say, Of men, we fear the people, for everyone judged regarding John that he truly was a prophet. ³³ And answering, they said unto Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Neither shall I tell you with what faculty I do these things.

¹ And it came to pass that on one of those days as he taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, the princes of the priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders ² and spoke unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

³ And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing, and answer me: ⁴ The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?

⁵ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ⁶ But and if we say, Of men, all the people will stone us; for they are certain that John was a prophet.

⁷ And they answered that they knew not from where.

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