The Authority of Jesus

11:27 They came again to Jerusalem.39 While Jesus40 was walking in the temple courts,41 the chief priests, the experts in the law,42 and the elders came up to him 11:28 and said, “By what authority43 are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” 11:29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 11:30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from people?44 Answer me.” 11:31 They discussed with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 11:32 But if we say, ‘From people—’ ” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet). 11:33 So45 they answered Jesus,46 “We don’t know.”47 Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you48 by what authority49 I am doing these things.”