say, 'From
heaven'; he will say, 'Why did ye not believe him?' But if we shall
say, 'From men'; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded
that John was a prophet."

And they answered that they knew not whence it was.

And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do
these things." And he told them--

_The Story of the Wicked Husbandmen_.

Jesus said, "A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen,
and went into another country for a long {239} time. And at the season
he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of
the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him
away empty. And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat,
and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And he sent yet a
third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. And the lord of
the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it
may be they will reverence him.'

"But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another,
saying, 'This is the heir: let us kill him, that the inheritance may
be ours.' And they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What
therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He will come and
destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others."

And when they heard it they said, "God forbid." But he looked upon
them, and said, "What then is this that is written,--

'The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner'?

"Everyone that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust."

And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in
that very hour; and they feared the people: for they saw that he spoke
this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies,
which pretended to be righteous, that they might take hold of his
{240} speech, so as to deliver him up to the authority of the
governor.

_The Question About Tribute_.

And they asked him, saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest and
teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth
teachest the way of God: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto
Caesar, or not?"

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Show me a
penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?"

And they said, "Caesar's."

And he said unto them, "Then render unto Caesar the th