12 ¹³ A NUMBER OF PHARISEES and men of Herod's party were sent to trap him with a question. 12 ¹⁴ They came and said, 'Master, you are an honest man, we know, and truckle to no man, whoever he may be; you teach in all honesty the way of life that God requires. Are we or are we not permitted to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? 12 ¹⁵ Shall we pay or not?' He saw how crafty their question was, and said, 'Why are you trying to catch me out? 12 ¹⁶ Fetch me a silver piece, and let me look at it.' They brought one, and he said is to them, 'Whose head is this, and whose inscription?' 'Caesar's', they replied. 12 ¹⁷ Then Jesus said, 'Pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God.' And they heard him with astonishment.