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." 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."




CHAPTER XII

IN CONFLICT WITH SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

And he began to speak unto them by parables.

"A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and
digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to
husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to
the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandman of
the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent
him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at
him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away
shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed,
and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore
one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying,
'They will reverence my son.' But those husbandmen said among
themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the