Luke 20 · Verse 2

Luke 20:2

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
Luke 20:2, King James Version

Luke 20:2 in other translations

BSB“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
WEBThey asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”
ASVand they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
YLTand spake unto him, saying, ‘Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'
DARBYand spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?
BBEThat 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.
WebsterAnd spoke to him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

What does Luke 20:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 20:1-19. The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and His Reply--Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.

(See on Mt 21:23.) 2. these things--particularly the clearing of the temple.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2.

(b) "by what authority" Acts 4:7-10, 7:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 By what authority, etc. - See the note on Mat 21:23-27 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 20:1-8

Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied…

Read the full comment on Luke 20:1-8 →

Luke 20:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπανeipanspokeG2036
λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτόν·autonHim:G846
εἰπὸνeipondo tellG2036
ἡμῖνhēminusG3165
ἐνenbyG1722
ποίᾳpoiawhatG4169
ἐξουσίᾳexousiaauthorityG1849
ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778
ποιεῖςpoieisYou doG4160
ἢēorG2228
τίςtiswhoG5101
ἐστινestinisG1510
ὁhothe [one]G3588
δούςdoushaving givenG1325
σοιsoito YouG4771
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ἐξουσίανexousianauthorityG1849
ταύτην;¶tautēnthis?G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 20:2

  • John 2:18

    Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Acts 7:27

    But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

  • Matthew 21:23-27

    And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. …

  • Mark 11:28-33

    And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? …

  • Exodus 2:14

    And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  • Acts 7:35-39

    This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: …

  • Luke 19:35-40

    And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. …

  • Acts 4:7-10

    And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

  • Luke 19:45-46

    And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

  • John 5:22-27

    For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tell.
19:35-40,45,46; Mt 21:23-27; Mr 11:28-33
who.
Ex 2:14; Joh 2:18; 5:22-27; Ac 4:7-10; 7:27,35-39,51

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 20:1

    And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

  • Luke 20:2

    And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

  • Luke 20:3

    And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Read all of Luke 20

Luke 20:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y le hablaron, diciendo: Dinos: ¿con qué potestad haces estas cosas? ¿ó quién es el que te ha dado esta potestad?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ils lui parlèrent, disant: Dis-nous par quelle autorité tu fais ces choses, ou qui est celui qui t’a donné cette autorité?
German
Elberfelder 1871
und sprachen zu ihm und sagten: Sage uns, in welchem Recht tust du diese Dinge? oder wer ist es, der dir dieses Recht gegeben hat?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et aiunt dicentes ad illum: Dic nobis in qua potestate hæc facis? aut quis est qui dedit tibi hanc potestatem?