Mark 11:27-33

Christian Standard Bible

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

²⁷ They^(A) came again to Jerusalem.^(B) As he was walking in the temple,^(C) the chief priests, the scribes,^(D) and the elders^(E) came ²⁸ and asked him, “By what authority^(F) are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question;^(G) then answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ Was John’s baptism^(H) from heaven or of human origin? Answer me.”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe^(I) him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.^{(J) 33} So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”