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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20 · kai One heis · ho day hēmera, as Jesus autos was teaching didaskō the ho people laos in en the ho temple hieron and kai preaching euangelizō the gospel , the ho chief archiereus priests and kai the ho scribes grammateus, along with syn the ho elders presbyteros, came up ephistēmi and kai spoke legō to pros him autos, saying legō, “ Tell legō us hēmeis by en what poios authority exousia you are doing poieō these houtos things ; or ē who tis it is eimi who ho gave didōmi you sy · ho this houtos authority exousia?” He answered apokrinomai, · de saying legō to pros them autos, “ I kagō will also kagō ask erōtaō you hymeis a question logos, and kai you must give legō me egō the answer : The ho baptism baptisma of John Iōannēs, was it eimi authorized from ek heaven ouranos or ē did it come from ek men anthrōpos?” They ho · de reasoned syllogizomai among pros themselves heautou, saying legō, “ If ean we say legō, ‘ From ek heaven ouranos,’ then he will say legō, ‘ Why dia tis did you not ou believe pisteuō him autos?’ But de if ean we say legō, ‘ From ek men anthrōpos,’ all hapas the ho people laos will stone katalithazō us hēmeis to death , because gar they are eimi convinced peithō that John Iōannēs was eimi a prophet prophētēs.” So kai they replied apokrinomai that they did not know oida where pothen it was from . Then kai · ho Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, “ Neither oude will I egō tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things .”

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