AND it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and publishing the good news, that the chief priests and the scribes came to him with the elders, (2)and spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this authority? (3)And he answering said to them: I also will ask you one thing; and tell it me. (4)John's immersion, was it from heaven, or from men? (5)And they reasoned with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven, he will say, Why, then did ye not believe him? (6)But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. (7)And they answered, that they knew not whence it was. (8)And Jesus said to them: Neither do I say to you, by what authority I do these things. (9)And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time. (10)And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. (11)And again he sent another servant; and him also, having beaten and treated him shamefully, they sent away empty. (12)And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also, and cast him out. (13)And the lord of the vineyard said: What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps, seeing him, they will reverence him. (14)But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying: This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may become ours. (15)So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? (16)He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And hearing it, they said: Far be it! (17)And he, looking on them, said: What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is become the head of the corner. (18)Every one that falls upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (19)And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that hour; and they feared the people; for they knew that he spoke this parable against them.