The Authority of Jesus Questioned

27 Again they came to Jerusalem, and as Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came up to him 28 and said to him, “By what authority are yoʋ doing these things? [fn]And who gave yoʋ this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus [fn]answered them, “I will [fn]also ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things: 30 Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven or from men? [fn]Answer me.” 31 So they [fn]considered it among themselves, saying, “[fn]If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But [fn]shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the [fn]people, for everyone thought that John was [fn]truly a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” [fn]In response Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”