The Authority of Jesus Questioned

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And they come again to Jerusalem, and in the temple, as he is walking, there come unto him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

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and they say to him, `By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?'

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And Jesus answering said to them, `I will question you--I also--one word; and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things;

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the baptism of John--from heaven was it? or from men? answer me.'

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And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

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But if we may say, From men,' --they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet;

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and answering they say to Jesus, `We have not known;' and Jesus answering saith to them, `Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.'