23 And when he was come into the temple, the princes of the priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a word, which if ye tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it from? from heaven or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men, we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.