10 »Do you refuse to speak even to me?« asked Pilate; »do you not know that I have it in my power either to release you or to crucify you?«
11 »You would have had no power whatever over me,« replied Jesus, »had it not been granted you from above. On that account he who has delivered me up to you is more guilty than you are.«
1 Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.
2 It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;
3 and all went to be registered–every one to the town to which he belonged.
4 So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.
9 for a wide door stands open before me which demands great efforts, and we have many opponents.
25 Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you, and the magistrate should give you in custody to the officer and you be thrown into prison.
26 I solemnly tell you that you will certainly not be released till you have paid the very last farthing.
12 Live honourable lives among the Gentiles, in order that, although they now speak against you as evil-doers, they may yet witness your good conduct, and may glorify God on the day of reward and retribution.
13 Submit, for the Lord's sake, to every authority set up by man, whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler,
14 or to provincial Governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and the encouragement of those who do what is right.
18 and you will even be put on trial before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they have delivered you up, have no anxiety as to how you shall speak or what you shall say; for at that very time it shall be given you what to say;
1 Let every individual be obedient to those who rule over him; for no one is a ruler except by God's permission, and our present rulers have had their rank and power assigned to them by Him.
2 Therefore the man who rebels against his ruler is resisting God's will; and those who thus resist will bring punishment upon themselves.
3 For judges and magistrates are to be feared not by right-doers but by wrong-doers. You desire –do you not?– to have no reason to fear your ruler. Well, do the thing that is right, and then he will commend you.
4 For he is God's servant for your benefit. But if you do what is wrong, be afraid. He does not wear the sword to no purpose: he is God's servant–an administrator to inflict punishment upon evil-doers.
5 We must obey therefore, not only in order to escape punishment, but also for conscience' sake.
6 Why, this is really the reason you pay taxes; for tax-gatherers are ministers of God, devoting their energies to this very work.
7 Pay promptly to all men what is due to them: taxes to those to whom taxes are due, toll to those to whom toll is due, respect to those to whom respect is due, honour to those to whom honour is due.
17 Give us your judgement therefore: is it allowable for us to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?«
18 Perceiving their wickedness, Jesus replied, »Why are you hypocrites trying to ensnare me?
19 Show me the tribute coin.« And they brought Him a shilling.
20 »Whose likeness and inscription,« He asked, »is this?«
21 »Caesar's,« they replied. »Pay therefore,« He rejoined, »what is Caesar's to Caesar; and what is God's to God.«
24 After their arrival at Capernaum the collectors of the half-shekel came and asked Peter, »Does not your Teacher pay the half-shekel?«
25 »Yes,« he replied, and then went into the house. But before he spoke a word Jesus said, »What think you, Simon? From whom do this world's kings receive customs or capitation tax? from their own children, or from others?«
26 »From others,« he replied. »Then the children go free,« said Jesus.
27 »However, lest we cause them to sin, go and throw a hook into the Lake, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth, you will find a shekel in it: bring that coin and give it to them for yourself and me.«
8 Owe nothing to any one except mutual love; for he who loves his fellow man has satisfied the demands of Law.