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The Authority of Jesus

They were once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders approached him

and asked: “What authority do you have to act like this? Who gave you the authority to do the things you do?”

Jesus said to them:

“I will ask you just one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what authority I have to do this.

Was John’s baptism from heaven or from humans? Answer me.” 

And they kept arguing among themselves:

“If we say that it was a work of God, he will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’”

 But neither could they answer the people that John’s baptism was merely a human activity, for everyone regarded John as a prophet. 

So they responded to Jesus:

“We don’t know.”

Then Jesus said to them:

“Neither will I tell you what authority I have to do what I do.”