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 answered and 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? from heaven, or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, if we shall say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him? ²⁶ But if we shall say, From 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 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 say to him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask of 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 with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ³² But if we shall say, from men; they feared the people: for all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed. ³³ And they answered and said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

¹ And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him, with the elders, 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 answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: ⁴ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?

⁵ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? 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 could not tell whence it was.

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