Mark 11:27-33
New English Translation
The Authority of Jesus
27 They came again to Jerusalem. While Jesus[a] was walking in the temple courts,[b] the chief priests, the experts in the law,[c] and the elders came up to him 28 and said, “By what authority[d] are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?” 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 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from people?[e] Answer me.” 31 They discussed with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From people—’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet). 33 So[f] they answered Jesus,[g] “We don’t know.”[h] Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you[i] by what authority[j] I am doing these things.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 11:27 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Mark 11:27 tn Grk “the temple.”
- Mark 11:27 tn Or “the chief priests, the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
- Mark 11:28 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ.
- Mark 11:30 tn The plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn) is probably used here (and in v. 32) in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NAB, NRSV, “of human origin”; TEV, “from human beings”; NLT, “merely human”).sn The question is whether John’s ministry was of divine or human origin.
- Mark 11:33 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous action(s) in the narrative.
- Mark 11:33 tn Grk “answering, they said to Jesus.” The participle ἀποκριθέντες (apokrithentes) is redundant, but the syntax of the phrase has been modified to conform to English style.
- Mark 11:33 sn Very few questions could have so completely revealed the wicked intentions of the religious leaders. Jesus’ question revealed the motivation of the religious leaders and exposed them for what they really were—hypocrites. They indicted themselves when they cited only two options and chose neither of them (“We do not know”). The point of Mark 11:27-33 is that no matter what Jesus said in response to their question they were not going to believe it and would in the end use it against him.
- Mark 11:33 sn Neither will I tell you. Though Jesus gave no answer, the analogy he used to their own question makes his view clear. His authority came from heaven.
- Mark 11:33 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ. This is exactly the same phrase as in v. 28.
Mark 11:27-33
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
27 And kai they came erchomai again palin to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma. And kai while peripateō he autos was walking about peripateō in en the ho temple hieron, the ho ruling archiereus priests and kai the ho scribes grammateus and kai the ho elders presbyteros came erchomai to pros him autos, 28 and kai were asking legō him autos, “ By en what poios authority exousia are you doing poieō these houtos things ?” and ē, “ Who tis gave didōmi you sy · ho this houtos authority exousia to hina do poieō these houtos things ?” 29 · ho But de Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, “ I will ask eperōtaō you hymeis one heis thing logos; · kai answer apokrinomai me egō, and kai I will tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things . 30 The ho baptism baptisma of ho John Iōannēs— was it eimi from ek heaven ouranos or ē from ek man anthrōpos? Answer apokrinomai me egō!” 31 So kai they discussed dialogizomai it among pros themselves heautou, saying legō, “ If ean we say legō, ‘ From ek heaven ouranos,’ he will say legō, ‘ Why dia tis then oun did you not ou believe pisteuō him autos?’ 32 But alla if we say legō, ‘ From ek man’—( they were afraid phobeomai of the ho people ochlos, for gar everyone hapas considered echō that hoti · ho John Iōannēs was eimi truly ontōs a prophet prophētēs). 33 So kai in answer apokrinomai to ho Jesus Iēsous, they said legō, “ We do not ou know oida.” And 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 am doing poieō these houtos things .”
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