Devine Scripture

Mark 11:28

What does Mark 11:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 11:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 11:28 means

The religious leaders directly questioned Jesus's authority, asking, "By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?" They sought to discredit Him by demanding the source of His power, whether divine or human. This challenge was an attempt to trap Him, either by forcing Him to claim divine authority, which they would deem blasphemy, or by revealing a human mandate they could easily dismiss.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they said to him, By what authority do you do these things? or who gave you authority to do these things?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and they say to him, `By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they say to him: By what authority dost thou these things? And who hath given thee this authority that thou shouldst do these things?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and they say to him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority, that thou shouldest do these things?

Context

This verse records the direct challenge from the religious leaders to Jesus, immediately following their confrontation with Him in the temple (verse 27). This question about His authority is a crucial turning point, setting up Jesus's counter-question and the subsequent evasiveness of the leaders, revealing their underlying fear and lack of genuine spiritual inquiry.

v.27And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;

v.28This passage

v.29And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Numbers 16:13

    is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?

  • Acts 7:38

    This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:

  • Acts 7:51

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

  • Acts 7:27

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

  • Exodus 2:14

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

  • Numbers 16:3

    and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?

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