32 For John came to you in a way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. However, the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him,+ and even when you saw this, you did not feel regret afterward so as to believe him.

30 Was the baptism by John+ from heaven or from men?* Answer me.”+ 31 So they began to reason among themselves, saying: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’

29 (When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be righteous, for they had been baptized with the baptism of John.+ 30 But the Pharisees and those versed in the Law disregarded the counsel* of God to them,+ since they had not been baptized by him.)