The Authority of Jesus Questioned

27

They went back into Yerushalayim; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the head cohanim, the Torah-teachers and the elders;

28

and they said to him, "What s'mikhah do you have that authorizes you to do these things? Who gave you this s'mikhah authorizing you to do them?"

29

Yeshua said to them, "I will ask you just one question: answer me, and I will tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things.

30

The immersion of Yochanan -- was it from Heaven or from a human source? Answer me."

31

They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, `From Heaven,' he will say, `Then why didn't you believe him?'

32

But if we say, `From a human source, . . . '" -- they were afraid of the people, for they all regarded Yochanan as a genuine prophet.

33

So they answered Yeshua, "We don't know." "Then," he replied, "I won't tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things."