Gospel according to Luke

It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"

They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'

But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

They answered that they didn't know where it was from.

Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."