4
"Was the baptism of John from heavenor from men?"
5
They reasonedamongthemselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why* did you not believe him?'
6
"But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a 1prophet."
7
So they answered that they did not knowwhere it came from.
8
And Jesussaid to them, "Nor will I tell you by whatauthority I dothesethings."
Parable of the Vine-growers
92And He began to tell the peoplethisparable: "A manplanted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a longtime.
10
"At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growersbeat him and sent him awayempty-handed.
11
"And he proceeded to sendanotherslave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him awayempty-handed.
12
"And he proceeded to send a third; and thisonealso they wounded and cast out.
13
"The owner of the vineyardsaid, 'What shall I do? I will send my belovedson; perhaps they will 3respect him.'
14
"But when the vine-growerssaw him, they reasoned with oneanother, saying, 'This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'