²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

³ He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴ John’s baptism^(A)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people^(B) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”^(C)

⁷ So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

⁸ Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

²⁴ Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant