21 ²³ He entered the temple, and the chief priests and elders of the nation came to him with the question: 'By what authority are you acting like this? Who gave you this authority?' 21 ²⁴ Jesus replied, 'I have a question to ask too; answer it, and I will tell you by what authority I act. 21 ²⁵ The baptism of John: was it from God, or from men?' This set them arguing among themselves: 'If we say, "from God", he will say, "Then why did you not believe him ?" 21 ²⁶ But if we say, "from men", we are afraid of the people, for they all take John for a prophet.' 21 ²⁷ So they answered, 'We do not know.' And Jesus said: 'Then neither will I tell you by what authority I act.