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One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up
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and said to him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority."
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He answered them, "I also will ask you a question; now tell me,
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Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"
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And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, '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 whence it was.
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And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
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And he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country for a long while.
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When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him some of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
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And he sent another servant; him also they beat and treated shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.