Mark 11:27–33

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHALLENGED

27 Theyt came again to Jerusalem.u As he was walking in the temple,v the chief priests, the scribes,w and the eldersx came 28 and asked him, “By what authorityy are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;z then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was John’s baptismaa from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”

31 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believeab him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ ”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.ac 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

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