Two key passages used by strong complementarians to deny women speaking publicly: 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2

1 Corinthians 14:34 ('women should keep silent in the churches') is the strongest passage. John MacArthur, as a very influential complementarian, interprets this to mean women could not speak publicly at all in mixed gatherings. He uses this verse to reinterpret what other verses appear to say about women prophesying. 1 Timothy 2 ('I do not allow a woman to teach or have authority over a man') is the other key passage.