Mark 11:27-33

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

²⁷ Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him ²⁸ and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ ²⁹ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ ³¹ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” ³² But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. ³³ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’