Mark 11:30

30 Was the baptism of John ¹from heaven or from man? 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 they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them? ”

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me. ”

31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven, ’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him? ’

32 But shall we say, ‘From man’? ”— they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

Cross References

• 1. 11:30 Luke 15:18, 21; John 3:27