²⁵From where was the baptism of John—from heaven or from men?” And they began to discuss^* this^* among themselves, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

Read in Logos

Footnotes

*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to discuss”)
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

NIVNew International Version (2011)

John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

NLTNew Living Translation

“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 us why we didn’t believe John.

KJV 1900King James Version

The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Public Domain