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And it came about on one of those days, when he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the good news,
2
That the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people came to him and said, Make clear to us by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.
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And in answer he said to them, I will put a question to you, and do you give me an answer:
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The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?
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And they said among themselves, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why did you not have faith in him?
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But if we say, Of men; we will be stoned by the people, for they are certain that John was a prophet.
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And they made answer that they had no idea where it came from.
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And Jesus said, And I will not make clear to you by what authority I do these things.
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And he gave the people this story: A man made a vine-garden and gave the use of it to some field-workers and went into another country for a long time.
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And at the right time he sent a servant to the workers to get part of the fruit from the vines; but the workmen gave him blows and sent him away with nothing.
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And he sent another servant, and they gave blows to him in the same way, and put shame on him, and sent him away with nothing.
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And he sent a third, and they gave him wounds and put him out.