Luke 20:2
New International Version
“Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

New Living Translation
They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

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

Berean Standard Bible
“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

Berean Literal Bible
and spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us by what authority You do these things, or who is the one having given to You this authority?"

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

New King James Version
and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

New American Standard Bible
and they declared, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?”

NASB 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?”

NASB 1977
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?”

Legacy Standard Bible
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?”

Amplified Bible
and said to Him, “Tell us by what kind of authority You are doing these things? Or who is the one who gave You this authority?”

Christian Standard Bible
and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who 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?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
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?”

Contemporary English Version
asked him, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you 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?

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?

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

Good News Translation
and said to him, "Tell us, what right do you have to do these things? Who gave you such right?"

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

Literal Standard Version
and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us by what authority You do these things? Or who is he that gave to You this authority?”

Majority Standard Bible
“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

New American Bible
and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who is the one who gave you this authority?”

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

New Revised Standard Version
and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?”

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Authority Challenged
1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. 2“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 3“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:…

Cross References
Luke 20:1
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

Luke 20:3
"I will also ask you a question," Jesus replied. "Tell Me:


Treasury of Scripture

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

Tell.

Luke 19:35-40,45,46
And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon…

Matthew 21:23-27
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? …

Mark 11:28-33
And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? …

who.

Exodus 2:14
And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

John 2:18
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

John 5:22-27
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: …

Jump to Previous
Authority Chief Clear Elders Priests Rulers Scribes Together
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Authority Chief Clear Elders Priests Rulers Scribes Together
Luke 20
1. Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism.
9. The parable of the vineyard.
19. Of giving tribute to Caesar.
27. He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection.
41. How Jesus is the Son of David.
45. He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes.














(2) Tell us, by what authority . . .?--The form of the question is nearly identical in the three Gospels.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Tell
Εἰπὸν (Eipon)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

us,”
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

they said,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“by
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

what
ποίᾳ (poia)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4169: Of what sort. From the base of pou and hoios; individualizing interrogative what sort of, or which one.

authority
ἐξουσίᾳ (exousia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.

are You doing
ποιεῖς (poieis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

these things,
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

[and]
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

who
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

gave
δούς (dous)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

You
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

this
ταύτην (tautēn)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

authority?”
ἐξουσίαν (exousian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.


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NT Gospels: Luke 20:2 They asked him Tell us: by what (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 20:1
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