13 The priests and scribes were much emboldened by the council of Caiaphas and the other men in power, and so they came to Jesus and they said,
14 Who gave you the authority to do as you have done? Why did you drive the merchants from the temple yesterday?
15 And Jesus answered them and said, If you will answer what I ask, then I will answer you; Was John, the harbinger, a man of God, or was he a seditious man?
16 The scribes and Pharisees were loath to answer him; they reasoned thus among themselves:
17 If we shall say, John was a prophet sent from God, then he will say,
18 John testified for me, that I am son of God; why do you not believe his words?
19 If we should say, John was a bold, seditious man, the people will be angered, for they think he was a prophet of the living God.
20 And so they answered Jesus and they said, We do not know; we cannot tell.
21 Then Jesus said, If you will tell me not, then I will tell you not who gave me power to drive the robbers from the house of God.
22 And then he spoke a parable to them; he said, A man once made a feast inviting all the rich and honored people of the land.