Jesus’ Authority Challenged

The chief priests and elders confront Jesus in the temple and ask who authorized his actions. He answers with a question about John’s baptism, and their refusal to decide leaves the matter unresolved.

W²³hen Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” ²⁴“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” ²⁶They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered, “We do not know.”