And they came again to Jerusalem. And all the people came early in the
morning to him in the temple to hear him. And as he was teaching the
people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the
chief priests and the scribes with the elders; and they spake, saying
unto him, "Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is
he that gave thee this authority?"
And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "I also will ask you one question,
which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these
things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men?"
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, 'From
heaven'; he will say unto us, 'Why did ye not believe him?' But if we
shall say, 'From men'; all the people will stone us: for they are
persuaded that John was a prophet."