Now every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, but every night He went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet, the Mount of Olives. And all the people used to come to Him early in the morning in the temple to hear Him. So it came to pass on one of the days, they came again to Jerusalem; and when He came into the temple, He taught the people and preached the gospel. And as He was walking about in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people came to Him, and said to Him, "Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things, or who is it that gave Thee this authority to do these things?" Then Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question, and answer Me; and if ye tell Me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or from men? Answer Me."

Then they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did ye not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude: all the people will stone us; for they are all persuaded and hold that John was a prophet." And they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And Jesus saith to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."