Luke 20:2

“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The chief priests, scribes, and elders approach Jesus in the temple courts while He is teaching the people. They interrupt His instruction to demand a justification for His actions.

The words — The supplied Greek includes εἶπαν/εἰπὸν (eipan/eipon, "spoke"/"do tell") and ἡμῖν (hēmin, "us"), which frame the leaders' direct challenge, while ἐν (en, "by") anchors their inquiry to the source of power.

The thread — This confrontation parallels the temple entry challenges recorded in Matthew 21:23 and Mark 11:28, where religious leaders similarly question Jesus' right to act. It also echoes Moses' encounter in Exodus 2:14, where a demand for authority is met with skepticism about the speaker's right to judge.

Why it lands — The text forces a reader to examine whether they demand proof of authority while refusing to acknowledge the One who holds it. It requires a clear answer to who ultimately legitimizes public action and teaching.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Cross-references

Exodus 2:14 But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Mark 11:28 “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”
John 2:18 On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
Acts 7:27 But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?
Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Acts 7:35 This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Luke 19:35 Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:45 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.