The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts(B) and proclaiming the good news,(C) the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”(D)

He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism(E)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people(F) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”(G)

So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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Jesus’ Authority is Challenged(A)

20 One day, while Jesus[a] was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the high priests and the scribes came with the elders and asked him, “Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

He answered them, “I, too, will ask you a question.[b] Tell me: Was John’s authority to baptize[c] from heaven or from humans?”

They discussed this among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From humans,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

Then Jesus told them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I’m doing these things.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:1 Lit. he
  2. Luke 20:3 Lit. word
  3. Luke 20:4 Lit. John’s baptism