les of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the
temple. And he taught, saying unto them:

"Is it not written, 'My house shall be called of all nations the house
of prayer?' but ye have made it a den of thieves."

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might
destroy him: for they feared him because all the people was astonished
at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up
from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him,
"Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away."

And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God. For verily I
say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea;' and shall not doubt in his
heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you,
what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if
ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will
your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple,
there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
and say unto him:

"By what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this
authority to do these things?"

And Jesus answered and said unto them, "I will also ask of you one
question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do
these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
Answer me."

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we shall say, 'From
heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did ye not believe him?' But if we
shall say, 'Of men;' they feared the people: for all men counted John,
that he was a prophet indeed." And they answered and said unto Jesus,
"We cannot tell."

And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Neither do I tell you by what
authority I do these things."

CHAPTER XII

IN CONFLICT WITH SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

And he began to speak unto them by parables.

"A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and
digged