Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And when he was 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 dost thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?

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

²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders come to him and say to him, By what authority dost thou these things? ²⁸ And who gave thee authority to do these things?

²⁹ Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Was the baptism of John of heaven or of men?

³¹ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ³² But if we say, of men: they feared the people; for all accounted John, that he was indeed a prophet. ³³ And they answering say to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith to them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.

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

³ And he answering said, I will also ask you one thing and tell me, Was the baptism of John from heaven or of men? ⁴ And they reasoned among themselves,

⁵ saying, If we say from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? ⁶ But if we say of men, all the people will stone us;

⁷ for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

⁸ And they answered, They could not tell whence. Jesus said to them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.