Remembering how John had repeated the prophecies concerning the Messiah, remembering the scene at the baptism of Jesus, the priests and rulers dared not say that John's baptism was from heaven. If they acknowledged John to be a prophet, as they believed him to be, how could they deny his testimony that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God? And they could not say that John's baptism was of men, because of the people, who believed John to be a prophet. So they said, "We can not tell."

Præsterne og rådsherrerne, der huskede, hvorledes Johannes havde gentaget profetierne om Messias, og hvad der havde fundet sted ved hans dåb, turde ikke sige, at Johannes dåb var fra Himmelen. Hvis de indrømmede, at Johannes var profet og det troede de, at han var hvordan kunne de da nægte at tro på hans vidnesbyrd om, at Jesus fra Nazaret var Guds Søn? Og for folkets skyld, der troede, at Johannes var profet, kunne de ikke sige, at Johannes dåb var fra mennesker Derfor sagde de: "Vi ved det ikke."