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Luke 20:2

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 20:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
Luke 20:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;
2and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:
4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?
5And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?
← Luke 20:1Luke 20:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And spoke unto him, saying, tell us by what authority doest thou these things? etc.] 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 “<402123>Matthew 21:23”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 21:23-27. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:2 By what authority are you doing all these things? Since these groups were the recognized Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, they wanted to know how Jesus could claim authority to enter Jerusalem as a king and drive the merchants from the Temple.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Tell: Luk 19:35-40, Luk 19:45, Luk 19:46; Mat 21:23-27; Mar 11:28-33 who: Exo 2:14; Joh 2:18, Joh 5:22-27; Act 4:7-10, Act 7:27, Act 7:35-39, Act 7:51 Luke 20:3”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 20 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification