The Authority of Jesus

20:1 Now one1 day, as Jesus2 was teaching the people in the temple courts3 and proclaiming4 the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law5 with the elders came up6 20:2 and said to him,7 “Tell us: By what authority8 are you doing these things?9 Or who it is who gave you this authority?” 20:3 He answered them,10 “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 20:4 John’s baptism11—was it from heaven or from people?”12 20:5 So13 they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 20:6 But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 20:7 So14 they replied that they did not know15 where it came from. 20:8 Then16 Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you17 by whose authority18 I do these things.”