Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

²⁴ Jesus answered. "I also will put a question to you, which, if you tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ John's baptism, whence was it, from heaven or from man?" So they began debating about it among themselves. ²⁶ "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you in what authority I do these deeds.

²⁷ Once more they came into Jerusalem; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the high priests and Scribes and elders and asked him. ²⁸ "By what authority do you do these things? or who gave you this authority to do these things?"

²⁹ "And I will put one question to you," replied Jesus. "Answer this, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me!"

³¹ Then they began arguing with one another. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?" ³² On the other hand, if we say, 'From men'!" They were afraid, however, of the people, for every one held that John had been really a prophet. ³³ So their answer to Jesus was, "We do not know." "Neither will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."

¹ On one of the days while he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the gospel, there came up the priest and the Scribes with the elders. ² They spoke to him saying. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things? Who is it that gave you this authority?"

³ "I will also ask you a question," he replied. ⁴ "Was John's baptism from heaven or from man?"

⁵ So they reasoned among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why did you not believe in him?' ⁶ "And if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷ So they answered that they did not know whence it was.

⁸ "Nor will I tell you," Jesus answered, "by whose authority I do these things."