Luke 20:24

24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and inscription hath it? They answering, said to him: Caesar’s.

Luke 20:24 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 20:24

Show me a penny
A Roman denarius, value seven pence halfpenny of our money. The Persic version adds, "they showed it, he asked of them"; and the Ethiopic version, "and they brought it, and he said unto them", as follows;

whose image and superscription hath it?
for the penny had an head upon it, with something written, as the name of the emperor, whose image it was, his titles, the date of the coin, or some motto on it:

they answered and said, Caesar's;
very likely Tiberius Caesar's, who was at that time emperor of Rome; (See Gill on Matthew 22:20) and (See Gill on Matthew 22:21).

Luke 20:24 In-Context

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or no?
23 But he, considering their guile, said to them: Why tempt you me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and inscription hath it? They answering, said to him: Caesar’s.
25 And he said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things, that are Caesar’s: and to God the things that are God’s.
26 And they could not reprehend his word before the people: and wondering at his answer, they held their peace.
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