And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the
scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him. And could
not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive
to hear him. And it came to pass, _that_ on one of those days, as he
taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief
priests and the scribes came upon _him_ with the elders. And spake
unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things?
or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said
unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism
of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with
themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why
then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people
will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And
they answered, that they could not tell whence _it was_. And Jesus
said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these
things.--_St. Luke xix: 47, 48; xx: 1-8._
* * * * *
_NOTE BY THE ARTIST_
_The occasion on which Jesus encountered for the last time the
opposition of his priestly enemies to his teaching, and when, in the
presence of the assembled multitudes, he exposed and denounced their
hypocrisy, is supposed to take place in one of the great outer courts
of the Temple, the buildings of which, although begun forty-six years
previously, were at this time still unfinished, and were indeed never
fully completed in accordance with their original design_.