Luke 20:2
 Luke 20:2 
New International Version (©2011)
"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
They demanded, "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?"

English Standard Version (©2001)
and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and they spoke, saying to Him, "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
and said to Him: "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?"

International Standard Version (©2012)
and asked him, "Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

NET Bible (©2006)
and said to him, "Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority?"

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
They were saying to him, “Tell us by what authority do you do these things, and who is he who has given you this authority?”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They asked him, "Tell us, what gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And spoke unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? or who is he that gave you this authority?

American King James Version
And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? or who is he that gave you this authority?

American Standard Version
and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? or, Who is he that hath given thee this authority?

Darby Bible Translation
and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?

English Revised Version
and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Webster's Bible Translation
And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Weymouth New Testament
together with the Elders, and they asked Him, "Tell us, By what authority are you doing these things? And who is it that gave you this authority?"

World English Bible
They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

Young's Literal Translation
and spake unto him, saying, 'Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:1-8 Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied further knowledge. It was just with Christ to refuse to give account of his authority, to those who knew the baptism of John to be from heaven, yet would not believe in him, nor own their knowledge.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And spoke unto him, saying, tell us by what authority doest thou these things?.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "this thing"; as if the sanhedrim only referred to his preaching the Gospel, which is mentioned in the preceding verse, and was what he was about when they came to him: but the Persic version reads, "all these things"; not only preaching, but working miracles; and particularly driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, which especially affected them, they losing their rents thereby:

or who is he that gave thee this authority? God or man? See Gill on Matthew 21:23.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. these things—particularly the clearing of the temple.


Luke 20:2 Parallel Commentaries

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Jesus' Authority Challenged
1And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came on him with the elders, 2And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? or who is he that gave you this authority? 3And he answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: …

Luke 20:1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
Luke 20:3 He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me: