¹² The religious leaders^[a] wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

¹⁸ When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

⁴⁴ Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.

³⁰ Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time^[a] had not yet come.

Is Jesus the Messiah?

²⁵ Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?

³² But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet.

²² His reply amazed them, and they went away.

¹⁹ The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.

⁶ But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.”

⁴⁵ When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. ⁴⁶ They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.