1 And it came about on one of the yamim Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying shiurim to HaAm (the People) in the Beis Hamikdash and was preaching the Besuras HaGeulah, the Rashei Hakohanim and the Sofrim with the Ziknei HaAm stood by;
2 They spoke, saying to him, Tell us by what shlita (authority) you do these things, or who is the one having given to you this shlita?
3 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, I will also confront you will a she'elah, and you tell me:
4 The tevilah of teshuva of Yochanan--was it from Shomayim or from Bnei Adam?
5 And they reasoned to themselves saying, If we say, from Shomayim, he will say, why did you not believe him?
6 But if we say, from Bnei Adam, HaAm (the People) all will subject us to sequilah (stoning), for HaAm Yisroel are all convinced that Yochanan is a navi.
7 And they answered that they did not have daas of the origin of the tevilah of teshuva of Yochanan.