The Authority of Jesus Questioned

20 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the [fn]priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are yoʋ doing these things, or who is it that gave yoʋ this authority?” 3 He answered them, “I will also ask you one question. Tell me: 4 Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven or from men?” 5 So they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘[fn]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 was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”