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.
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They said, "Tell us: What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority?"
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He replied, " I have a question for you. Tell me:
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Was John's baptism of heavenly or of human origin?"
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They discussed among themselves, "If we say, ‘It's of heavenly origin,' he'll say, ‘Why didn't you believe him?'
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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."
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They answered that they didn't know where it came from.
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Then Jesus replied, " Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things."