¹⁷ Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax^[a](A) to Caesar or not?”

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes,^(A) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;^(B) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus^(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.^(B)

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes^(A)—from their own children or from others?”

²² But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”^(A)

⁸ Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple^(A) or against Caesar.”

⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”^(A)

³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census^(A) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king^(A) opposes Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat^(B) at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic^(C) is Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation^(D) of the Passover; it was about noon.^(E)

“Here is your king,”^(F) Pilate said to the Jews.

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

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

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

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)(B)