23. And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, saying, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24. And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25. The baptism of John, whence was it? of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say to us, Why then have ye not believed him?
26. but if we should say, Of men, we fear the crowd, for all hold John for a prophet.
27. And answering Jesus they said, We do not know. He also said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.