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Mark 11:31

29 “I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”

They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

32 But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

33 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
KJV
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
WEB
They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
ASV
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
DARBY
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?
BLB
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, “What should we say? If we should say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you⁺ not believe him?’
ÅB
De tenkte da ved seg selv og sa: Sier vi: Fra himmelen, da sier han: Hvorfor trodde dere ham da ikke?
OTB
De drøftet dette seg imellom og sa: «Hvis vi sier: ‘Fra himmelen,’ vil han spørre: ‘Hvorfor trodde dere da ikke på ham?’
B1930
De tenkte da ved sig selv og sa: Sier vi: Fra himmelen, da sier han: Hvorfor trodde I ham da ikke?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 1:29

    The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

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  • John 1:15

    John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

    Read in context

  • John 3:29–36

    The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

    Read in context

  • John 1:34

    I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

    Read in context

  • John 1:36

    When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

    Read in context

  • Matthew 21:31–32

    Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 21:25–27

    What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

    Read in context

  • Matthew 11:7–14

    As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

    Read in context