^{1 Ref} And it came to pass, on one of those days, as he is teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came upon `him',

^{2 Ref} and spake unto him, saying, `Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

^{3 Ref} And he answering said unto them, `I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me:

^{4 Ref} the baptism of John, from heaven was it, or from men?'

^{5 Ref} And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

^{6 Ref} and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'

^{7 Ref} And they answered, that they knew not whence `it was',

^{8 Ref} and Jesus said to them, `Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'