JMNT(i)
28 and they began saying to Him, "Within what authority are you continuing to do these things and engage in these activities?"
29 So Jesus said to them, "I Myself will proceed also asking you men one word (one question from reasoned thought; = one point). You folks respond to me from your considered deliberation (or: decided opinion), and I will continue saying to you within what authority I continue doing these things and engaging in these activities:
30 "The immersion [performed] by John (or: John's baptism): was it from out of heaven (or: from [the] atmosphere), or forth from humans, as a source? Give to me a decided reply (or: a definite answer)."
31 So they began reasoning with themselves in face to face dialogues, eventually saying, "If we should say, 'From out of heaven (or: atmosphere),' he will proceed in saying, 'Why (Through what reasoning or situation), then, did you men not trust him (or: it) or believe in him (or: it)?'
32 "But on the other hand, should we say, 'Forth from humans'?" They had been fearing the crowd, for everyone (all [the] folks) continued holding John as being real – that he was a prophet (or: progressively had it that John in reality was a prophet),
33 and so, giving a considered response, they proceed saying to Jesus, "We have not seen (have not perceived; have not been aware), so we do not know." Then Jesus, with a decided reply, proceeds to say to them, "Neither am I Myself now laying out My thoughts in saying to you within what authority or right I continue doing these things and engaging in these activities."