Mark 11:30

30 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

Mark 11:30 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:30

The baptism of John
The doctrine of which he was the first preacher, and the ordinance of which he was the first administrator:

was it from heaven, or of men?
was it of divine or of human institution?

answer me;
directly and plainly, without any shuffling, or evasion: it is a fair question, and may be answered; and the answer to it our Lord suggests would naturally lead to a proper one to their question; (See Gill on Matthew 21:25).

Mark 11:30 In-Context

28 and asked, "By what authority are you doing these things? and who gave you authority to do them?"

29 "And I will put a question to you," replied Jesus; "answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin? Answer me."

31 So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'

32 Or should we say, `human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.