The authority of Jesus questioned is an episode in the life of Jesus that appears in all three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:1-8.
According to the Gospel of Matthew:
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?" Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"
In all three Gospels, this episode takes place shortly after the Cleansing of the Temple.