Jesus’ Authority Challenged
1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.
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“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
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“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:
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John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”
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They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
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But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
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So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
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And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”