20 And after observing him closely, they sent men whom they had secretly hired to pretend that they were righteous in order to catch him in his speech,+ so as to turn him over to the government and to the authority of the governor. 21 And they questioned him, saying: “Teacher, we know you speak and teach correctly and show no partiality, but you teach the way of God in line with truth: 22 Is it lawful* for us to pay head tax to Caesar or not?” 23 But he detected their cunning and said to them: 24 “Show me a de·narʹi·us.* Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said: “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them: “By all means, then, pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar+ but God’s things to God.”+ 26 Well, they were not able to trap him in his speech before the people, but amazed at his answer, they became silent.