^{23 Ref} And he having come to the temple, there came to him when teaching the chief priests and the elders of the people, saying, `By what authority dost thou do these things? and who gave thee this authority?'

^{24 Ref} And Jesus answering said to them, `I will ask you -- I also -- one word, which if ye may tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things;

^{25 Ref} the baptism of John, whence was it? -- from heaven, or from men?' And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we should say, From heaven; he will say to us, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

^{26 Ref} and if we should say, From men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.'

^{27 Ref} And answering Jesus they said, `We have not known.' He said to them -- he also -- `Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

^{28 Ref} `And what think ye? A man had two children, and having come to the first, he said, Child, go, to-day be working in my vineyard.'

^{29 Ref} And he answering said, `I will not,' but at last, having repented, he went.

^{30 Ref} `And having come to the second, he said in the same manner, and he answering said, I `go', sir, and went not;

^{31 Ref} which of the two did the will of the father?' They say to him, `The first.' Jesus saith to them, `Verily I say to you, that the tax-gatherers and the harlots do go before you into the reign of God,

^{32 Ref} for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him, and the tax-gatherers and the harlots did believe him, and ye, having seen, repented not at last -- to believe him.