²⁷ They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,

²³ When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

²⁴ Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵ The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet."

²⁷ They answered Jesus, and said, "We don't know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

¹ It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Gospel, that the {TR adds "chief"}priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

² They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

³ He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

⁴ the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"

⁵ They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'

⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷ They answered that they didn't know where it was from.

⁸ Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

¹ Why do the nations rage, And the peoples plot a vain thing?

² The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh, and against his anointed,{The word "anointed" is the same as the word for "Messiah" or "Christ"} saying,

³ "Let's break their bonds apart, And cast away their cords from us."

⁴ He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.

⁵ Then he will speak to them in his anger, And terrify them in his wrath:

¹ It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might sieze him by deception, and kill him.

²³ It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon's porch.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.

⁵ It happened in the morning, that their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem.

⁶ Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest.

⁷ When they had stood them in the middle of them, they inquired, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

²⁷ For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.

¹ "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of hosts.