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Luke 20:4–7

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? cBut and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: dfor they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

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Luke 20:4–7 — The New International Version (NIV)

John’s baptismwas it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

Luke 20:4–7 — English Standard Version (ESV)

was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

Luke 20:4–7 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.” So they finally replied that they didn’t know.

Luke 20:4–7 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

The baptism of Johnwas it from heaven or from men?”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

Luke 20:4–7 — New Century Version (NCV)

When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?”

They argued about this, saying, “If we answer, ‘John’s baptism was from God,’ Jesus will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘It was from other people,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet.” So they answered that they didn’t know where it came from.

Luke 20:4–7 — American Standard Version (ASV)

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.

Luke 20:4–7 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

The baptism of John, was it of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him? but if we should say, Of men, the whole people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, they did not know whence.

Luke 20:4–7 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?” 

They talked about this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘from humans,’ everyone will stone us to death. They’re convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they didn’t know who gave John the right to baptize. 

Luke 20:4–7 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

So they answered that they did not know its origin.

Luke 20:4–7 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

Luke 20:4–7 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? And they discussed this with one another, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” And they replied that they did not know where it was from.

Luke 20:4–7 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

was John’s baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men?”

They talked to each other about it. They said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet.”

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know where John’s baptism came from.”

Luke 20:4–7 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

“But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

So they answered that they did not know where it came from.


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