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."