⁴⁸ Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

³ He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate^(A) in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira^(A) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart^(B) to respond to Paul’s message.

⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”^(A) the guards replied.

⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?”^(B) the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?^{(C) 49} No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,^(A) for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan^(B) entered Judas, called Iscariot,^(C) one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard^(D) and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

¹⁹ The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him^(A) immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.^(B)

Paying Taxes to Caesar^(C)

²⁰ Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,^(D) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.^(E)

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar^(A)

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.^(B) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.