Matthew 21:25
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New International Version (©1984)
John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Did John's authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?" They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn't believe John.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?" And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

International Standard Version (©2008)
Where did John's authority to baptize come from? From heaven or from humans?" They began discussing this among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Did John's right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?" They discussed this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask us, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

King James Bible
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?

American King James Version
The baptism of John, from where was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why did you not then believe him?

American Standard Version
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

Bible in Basic English
The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven or from men? And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did you not have faith in him?

Douay-Rheims Bible
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:

Darby Bible Translation
The baptism of John, whence was it? of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say to us, Why then have ye not believed him?

English Revised Version
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

Webster's Bible Translation
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, if we shall say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?

Weymouth New Testament
John's Baptism, whence was it? --had it a heavenly or a human origin?" So they debated the matter among themselves. "If we say 'a heavenly origin,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

World English Bible
The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Young's Literal Translation
the baptism of John, whence was it? -- from heaven, or from men?' And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we should say, From heaven; he will say to us, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

Geneva Study Bible

The {m} baptism of John, whence was it? from {n} heaven, or of men? And they {o} reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

(m) The preaching of John is called by the figure baptism because he preached the baptism of repentance, etc.; Mr 1:4 Ac 19:3.

(n) From God, and so it is plainly seen how these are set one against another.

(o) Beat their heads about it, and mused, or laid their heads together.

People's New Testament

21:25,26 The baptism of John. Though the people generally had obeyed John, they had rejected his baptism. Yet they dared not say it was of men, for fear of the people; nor that it was of heaven, because they had disobeyed it. They therefore say, We cannot tell (Mt 21:27).

Wesley's Notes

21:25 Why did ye not believe him - Testifying this.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

25. The baptism of John-meaning his whole mission and ministry, of which baptism was the proper character.

whence was it? from heaven, or of men?-What wisdom there was in this way of meeting their question will best appear by their reply.

If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?-"Why did ye not believe the testimony which he bore to Me, as the promised and expected Messiah?" for that was the burden of John's whole testimony.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:23-27 As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John's ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their remembering and forgetting. Our Lord refused to answer their inquiry. It is best to shun needless disputes with wicked opposers.


Matthew 21:24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
Matthew 21:26 "But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet." (NASB ©1995)

Argued Baptism Believe Believed Debated Discussed Faith Heaven Heavenly Human John John's Matter Origin Reasoned Reasoning Source Themselves Whence Wherefore


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?

baptism. 3:1 *etc: 11:7-15 17:12,13 Mr 1:1-11 11:27-33 Lu 1:11-17,67-80 Lu 3:2-20 7:28-35 Joh 1:6,15,25-34 3:26-36

Why. Lu 20:5 Joh 3:18 5:33-36,44-47 10:25,26 12:37-43 1Jo 3:20

Bible Gateway: Matthew Chapter 21 Verse 25 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: among and ask baptism began believe come did didn't discussed from he heaven him' If it John John's men not of or reasoning said say saying source The themselves Then They to us Was we what where why will you

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