The Chief Priests question Jesus (Notes)

Saint Luke - Chapter 20

Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? J-J Tissot

[1] Et factum est in una dierum, docente illo populum in templo, et evangelizante, convenerunt principes sacerdotum, et scribae cum senioribus,
And it came to pass, that on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes, with the ancients, met together,

[2] et aiunt dicentes ad illum : Dic nobis in qua potestate haec facis? aut quis est qui dedit tibi hanc potestatem?
And spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? or, Who is he that hath given thee this authority?

[3] Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ad illos : Interrogabo vos et ego unum verbum. Respondete mihi :
And Jesus answering, said to them: I will also ask you one thing. Answer me:

[4] baptismus Joannis de caelo erat, an ex hominibus?
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

[5] At illi cogitabant intra se, dicentes : Quia si dixerimus : De caelo, dicet : Quare ergo non credidistis illi?
But they thought within themselves, saying: If we shall say, From heaven: he will say: Why then did you not believe him?

[6] Si autem dixerimus : Ex hominibus, plebs universa lapidabit nos : certi sunt enim Joannem prophetam esse.
But if we say, Of men, the whole people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

[7] Et responderunt se nescire unde esset.
And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.

[8] And Jesus said to them: Neither do I tell thee by what authority I do these things.
Et Jesus ait illis : Neque ego dico vobis in qua potestate haec facio.

Excerpt from The life of our Lord Jesus Christ by J-J Tissot (1897)

Esplanade of the Haram. J-J Tissot

My picture represents the scene as having taken place about 11.00 am in the Court of the Gentiles.  Many people are seated in the shade in the ''Naos Basilica'' of Herod.  Jesus is going from group to group, teaching.  In the background behind Him is the western Portico and the Gate leading to the town, corresponding with that now called the ''Gate of the Chain".  

On the right is the terrace of the Chel, already several times described; in this same building, surrounding the Quarter of the Women and itself in its turn encircled by the Chel, live their families engaged in the service of the Temple.  Amongst others was that of Abtinos, who, as related above, had the secret of preparing the incense used in the Temple.
In the same chapter as that just quoted we have a fresh proof of the great influence which had been exercised by John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord, and of the extent to which that influence had spread throughout the country.  Challenged by Jesus to say in what name John had baptised and to tell Him whether the baptism of John was from Heaven or of men, the great men of the Jews, the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Chief Priests, formidable though their power was over the minds of their fellow-citizens, yet feared that the popular fury might turn upon them and that the people would stone them as blasphemers if they ventured even to throw a doubt on the divine mission of the son of Zacharias.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam