Mark 11:31

31 καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες · Τί εἴπωμεν;⸃ ἐὰν εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ · Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;

Mark 11:31 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:31

And they reasoned with themselves saying
Privately; perhaps, they withdrew at a little distance for a short time, and consulted among themselves what answer to return; and the amount of their reasonings were this;

if we shall say from heaven, he will say, why then did ye not
believe him?
that is, should they say that John had a divine commission for what he said and did, they were aware that Christ would reply, why did not ye give credit to him? and had you done so, seeing he testified of me, you would have had no occasion to have put the above question; (See Gill on Matthew 21:25).

Mark 11:31 In-Context

29 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς · Ἐπερωτήσω ὑμᾶς ἕνα λόγον, καὶ ἀποκρίθητέ μοι, καὶ ἐρῶ ὑμῖν ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ ·

30 τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἦν ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων; ἀποκρίθητέ μοι.

31 καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες · Τί εἴπωμεν;⸃ ἐὰν εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ · Διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;

32 ἀλλὰ εἴπωμεν · Ἐξ ἀνθρώπων;— ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ὄχλον, ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι ⸃ προφήτης ἦν.

33 καὶ ἀποκριθέντες τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγουσιν ⸃· Οὐκ οἴδαμεν. καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς · Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ.