Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And when he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, 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 question; which if ye answer me, I too will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven, he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him? ²⁶ But if we say, From men, we fear the multitude; for all regard John as a prophet. ²⁷ And they answered Jesus and said, We do not know. And he 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 was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests and the scribes and the elders; ²⁸ and they said to him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus said to them, I will ask you one question; and answer me, 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 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ³² But shall we say, From men? They feared the people; for all regarded John as truly a prophet. ³³ And they answered and said to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus saith to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

¹ And it came to pass, on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and publishing the good tidings, that the priests and the scribes with the elders came upon him, ² and spoke to him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this authority?

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

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

⁷ And they answered, that they did not know whence it was.

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