THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED

20 Oneae day as he was teachingaf the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news,ag the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders,ah came 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”

3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?”

5 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the peoplea will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”b 7 So they answered that they did not know its origin.

8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”