Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And he having come to the temple, there came to him when teaching the chief priests and the elders of the people, saying, 'By what authority dost thou do these things? and who gave thee this authority?'

²⁴ And Jesus answering said to them, 'I will ask you -- I also -- one word, which if ye may 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 were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we should say, From heaven; he will say to us, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him? ²⁶ and if we should say, From men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.' ²⁷ And answering Jesus they said, 'We have not known.' He said to them -- he also -- 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁷ And they come again to Jerusalem, and in the temple, as he is walking, there come unto him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, ²⁸ and they say to him, 'By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?'

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

³¹ And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him? ³² But if we may say, From men,' -- they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet; ³³ and answering they say to Jesus, 'We have not known;' and Jesus answering 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 is teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came upon him, ² and spake unto him, saying, 'Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

³ And he answering said unto them, 'I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me: ⁴ the baptism of John, from heaven was it, or from men?'

⁵ And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- 'If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him? ⁶ and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'

⁷ And they answered, that they knew not whence it was,

⁸ and Jesus said to them, 'Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'