Luke 20:1-8

English Standard Version

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 ^(A)One day, ^(B)as Jesus^[a] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, ^(C)the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up ²and said to him, “Tell us ^(D)by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” ³He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, ⁴was the baptism of John ^(E)from heaven or from man?” ⁵And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ^(F)‘Why did you not believe him?’ ⁶But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was ^(G)a prophet.” ⁷So they answered that they did not know where it came from. ⁸And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Luke 20:1 Greek he

Luke 20:19-26

English Standard Version

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹⁹^(A)The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. ²⁰^(B)So they ^(C)watched him and sent spies, who ^(D)pretended to be sincere, that they might ^(E)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of ^(F)the governor. ²¹So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and ^(G)show no partiality,^[a] but truly teach ^(H)the way of God. ²²Is it lawful for us to give ^(I)tribute to ^(J)Caesar, or not?” ²³But he perceived their ^(K)craftiness, and said to them, ²⁴“Show me ^(L)a denarius.^[b] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” ²⁵He said to them, “Then ^(M)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” ²⁶And they were not able in the presence of the people ^(N)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.