2. and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?
3. And he answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, and tell me:
4. The baptism of John, was it of heaven or of men?
5. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him?
6. but if we should say, Of men, the whole people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
7. And they answered, they did not know whence.
8. And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
9. And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country for a long time.
10. And in the season he sent to the husbandmen a bondman, that they might give to him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen, having beaten him, sent him away empty.
11. And again he sent another bondman; but they, having beaten him also, and cast insult upon him, sent him away empty.
12. And again he sent a third; and they, having wounded him also, cast him out.
13. And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps when they see him they will respect him.
14. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may become ours.
15. And having cast him forth out of the vineyard, they killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do to them?
16. He will come and destroy those husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it they said, May it never be!
17. But he looking at them said, What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone?
18. Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.