Luke - 20:2

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2 They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 20:2.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
And spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? or, Who is he that hath given thee this authority?
and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?
And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
and spake unto him, saying, 'Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'
And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? or who is he that gave you this authority?
together with the Elders, and they asked Him, "Tell us, By what authority are you doing these things? And who is it that gave you this authority?"
That the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people came to him and said, Make clear to us by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.
and they spoke to him, saying: "Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or, who is it that has given you this authority?"
and addressing him, said, "Tell us what authority you have to do these things. Who is it who has given you this authority?"

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

By what authority, etc. - See the note on Matthew 21:23-27 (note).

And spoke unto him, saying, tell us by what authority doest thou these things?.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "this thing"; as if the sanhedrim only referred to his preaching the Gospel, which is mentioned in the preceding verse, and was what he was about when they came to him: but the Persic version reads, "all these things"; not only preaching, but working miracles; and particularly driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, which especially affected them, they losing their rents thereby:
or who is he that gave thee this authority? God or man? See Gill on Matthew 21:23.

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS QUESTIONED, AND HIS REPLY--PARABLE OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN. (Luke 20:1-19)
these things--particularly the clearing of the temple.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

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