²⁷

Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.

²⁸

And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?"

²⁹

But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

³⁰

The baptism of John-was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.

³¹

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

³²

But if we say, 'From men' -they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

³³

So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus answered and said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."