Mark 11:30

30 Was the baptism of John ¹from heaven or from man? Answer me."

Mark 11:30 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:30

The baptism of John
The doctrine of which he was the first preacher, and the ordinance of which he was the first administrator:

was it from heaven, or of men?
was it of divine or of human institution?

answer me;
directly and plainly, without any shuffling, or evasion: it is a fair question, and may be answered; and the answer to it our Lord suggests would naturally lead to a proper one to their question; (See Gill on Matthew 21:25).

Mark 11:30 In-Context

28 and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?"

29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."

31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

32 But shall we say, 'From man'?"--they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 15:18, 21; John 3:27