Matthew 17:24-27

24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered? ”

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free!

27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Footnotes

• [a] Greek the two-drachma [tax]; also in 17:24b . See Exod 30:13-16 ; Neh 10:32-33 .
• [b] Greek Simon?
• [c] Greek their sons or others?
• [d] Greek a stater [a Greek coin equivalent to four drachmas].