Luke 20:1-8 ▼

1 One day, as he was instructing the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests, and the Scribes, with the rulers came up to him,

2 and thus accosted him, tell us by what authority do you act thus? and whence do you derive that authority?

3 Jesus answer'd, I will ask you one question;

4 tell me, the baptism of John, was it a divine or a human institution?

5 but they reason'd thus with themselves, if we should say, it was divine, he will reply, why then did not you believe him?

6 if we should assert, it was a human contrivance, the populace would stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 they answer'd then, they did not know which it was.

8 Jesus replied, neither will I tell you by what authority I act thus.