1It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and scribes came to him with the elders.
2They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"
3He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:
4the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
5They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, `From heaven,` he will say, `Why didn`t you believe him?`
6But if we say, `From men,` all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7They answered that they didn`t know where it was from.