Question about Authority

The Question about Authority refers to an episode in the lives of Jesus of Nazareth and John the Baptist, as narrated in the Gospels of Mark (11:27-33), Matthew (21:23-27), and Luke (20:1-8).

The Question about Authority in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 11:27-33 -- [27] Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him [28] and said, "By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?" [29] Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. [30] Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me." [31] They argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' [32] But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?"--they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. [33] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Gospel of Luke

Luke 20:1-8 (NRSV) -- [1] One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders [2] and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" [3] He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: [4] Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" [5] They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' [6] But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." [7] So they answered that they did not know where it came from. [8] Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

External links

• [ Wikipedia]