"So the chief priests, scribes and elders answered." The word "so" marks an event that happened because of something else that happened first. In this case, they had reasoned with themselves in [Luke 20:5-6](./05.md), and they did not have an answer they wanted to say.
"And I will not tell you." Jesus knew they were not willing to tell him the answer, so he responded in the same manner. AT: "Just as you will not tell me, I will not tell you"