¹⁴ When they came, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know You are truthful and defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality^[a](A) but teach truthfully the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes^(B) to Caesar or not?

¹⁶ So they brought one. “Whose image^(A) and inscription^(B) is this?” He asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they said.

¹⁷ Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”^(C) And they were amazed^(D) at Him.

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus^[a](A) that the whole empire^[b] should be registered.

The Messiah’s Herald

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,^[a] while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,^(A) Herod was tetrarch^[b] of Galilee,^(B) his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea^[c] and Trachonitis,^[d] and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,^[e]

²² Is it lawful^(A) for us to pay taxes^(B) to Caesar^(C) or not?”

²⁴ “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they said.

²⁵ “Well then,” He told them, “give back to Caesar^(A) the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

¹² From that moment Pilate made every effort^[a] to release Him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.