The Authority of Jesus Challenged
1 One day as He was teaching the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came up
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and said to Him: "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?"
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He answered them, "I will also ask you a question. Tell Me,
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was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"
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They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
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But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
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So they answered that they did not know its origin.
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And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."