23 ¶ When Jesus came to the temple, the high priests and the elders of the people
came up to him, while he was teaching, and said to him, By what authority
do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

24 Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask you a word,
and if you tell me, I will then tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 Whence is the baptism of John? Is it from heaven, or from men?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say from heaven,
he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?

26 And if we should say, from men, we are afraid of the people,
for all of them regard John as a prophet.

27 So they answered and said to him, We do not know.
Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.