The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.

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“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”

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“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

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John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”

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They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

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But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

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So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”