Luke 20:1-8

ONE DAY as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple [porches] and preaching the good news (the Gospel), the chief priests and the scribes came up with the elders (members of the Sanhedrin) And said to Him, Tell us by what [sort of] authority You are doing these things? Or who is it who gave You this authority? He replied to them, I will also ask you a question. Now answer Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? And they argued and discussed [it] and reasoned together with themselves, saying, If we reply, From heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him? But if we answer, From men, all the people will stone us to death, for they are long since firmly convinced that John was a prophet. So they replied that they did not know from where it came. Then Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.