Luke 20:1-8

1One day, Jesus was teaching people in the yard of the temple. He was telling people the good news about God. Then the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law came to him. With them were some other important Jews.

2They asked him, ‘Tell us what authority you have to do these things? Who gave you the authority to do them?’

3Jesus replied, ‘I also will ask you a question. Tell me the answer.

4John baptized people. Did God give him the authority to do this? Or did men tell him to do it?’

5The Jewish leaders talked to each other about Jesus' question. ‘We could say that God gave John his authority. But if we say that, Jesus will say to us, “Then you should have believed John.”

6But we do not want to say that only men gave John his authority. Then all the people would throw stones at us to kill us. They are sure that John really was a prophet from God.’

7So the Jewish leaders answered Jesus, ‘We do not know who gave John his authority.’

8Jesus said to them, ‘You will not answer my question. So I will not tell you what authority I have to do these things.’