Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ AND Jesus having gone into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

²⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, I also will ask you one question, which, if you tell me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Whence was the baptism of John? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned within themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he will say to us, Why did you 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 came again to Jerusalem; and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and scribes, and elders came to him, ²⁸ and said to him, By what authority do you do these things? or who gave you this authority to do them?

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

³¹ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he will say, Why did you not believe him? ³² But if we say from men, they feared the people, for all considered John as a prophet indeed. ³³ And they answered and said to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

¹ And on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and scribes, with the elders, came upon him, ² and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

³ And he answered and said to them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me, ⁴ Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men?

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