Matthew 21:23-27

When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what [kind of] authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority [to exercise this power]?” [Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8] Jesus replied to them, “I will also ask you a question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John—from where did it come? From heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men?” And they began debating among themselves [considering the implications of their answer], saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe John?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what [kind of]authority I do these things.”