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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
But they foolishly ask Him: "By what authority do You do these things?" Yet it was possible for them to understand that since He brought forward the words of the prophet as testimony that the house of God is a house of prayer, and not a marketplace and a den of robbers (for greed and trading are characteristic of robbers), then what need, after all, is there to ask Him by what authority He does these things, when one can directly conclude that God so commands through the prophet? …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
The Jews, accusing the Lord, said: "By what power do you do these things? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." They sought a cause, not faith; whence they might lay traps, not whence they might be freed. Indeed, he who saw their hearts, observe what he answered to confound them through the lamp. …
Bede
Or when they say, By what authority doest thou these things? they doubt concerning the power of God, and wish it to be understood that of the devil He doeth this. Adding moreover, And who is he that gave thee this authority? Most plainly do they deny the Son of God when they think that not by His own power but another's He doeth miracles.
Bonaventure
For which reason it is added: And they say, speaking to him: Tell us: By what authority do you do these things? Or who is it that gave you this authority? They ask this as though it were doubtful, when nevertheless it had been made manifest through the most evident miracles, according to that passage in John 5: "The works which I do bear witness concerning me"; but they wished by their questioning to lead all the people into doubt, as though those miracles were not from God, but rather from the devil. …
Translation