Mark 11:32
30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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
- But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
- KJV
- But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
- WEB
- If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
- ASV
- But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.
- DARBY
- but should we say, Of men they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet.
- BLB
- But should we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the crowd, for all were holding that John truly was a prophet.
- ÅB
- Eller skal vi si: Fra mennesker? De fryktet for folket; for alle mente om Johannes at han i sannhet var en profet.
- OTB
- Men hvis vi sier: ‘Av menneskelig opprinnelse’…” De var redde for folket, for alle var overbevist om at Johannes virkelig var en profet.
- B1930
- Eller skal vi si: Fra mennesker? De fryktet for folket; for alle mente om Johannes at han i sannhet var en profet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 14:5
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Read in contextMatthew 21:46
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Read in contextMark 12:12
And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Read in contextJohn 10:41
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
Read in contextMatthew 21:31–32
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Read in contextLuke 22:2
And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
Read in contextLuke 7:26–29
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
Read in contextMark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Read in context