and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things. Who is it that gave you this authority?”
In context
1One of those days, while he was teaching the people in the temple and announcing the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came up with the elders 2and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things. Who is it that gave you this authority?” 3He answered them, “I too will ask you a question. Tell me: 4the baptism of John — was it from heaven or from human beings?”