Luke 20:1-6

Controversy over authority

1 On one of the days when Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders approached him.

2 They said, "Tell us: What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?"

3 He replied, " I have a question for you. Tell me:

4 Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin?"

5 They discussed among themselves, "If we say, ‘It's of heavenly origin,' he'll say, ‘Why didn't you believe him?'

6 But if we say, ‘It's of human origin,' all the people will stone us to death because they are convinced that John was a prophet."