27After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.
28“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”
29“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”
31They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
32But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
33So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”