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 Matthew

Matthew 21:23-27 (NRSV) -- [23] When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" [24] Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. [25] Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' [26] But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." [27] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he 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]