And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
Parallel translations
- WEB They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.
- BSB And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people; and amazed at His answer, they fell silent.
- NKJV But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
- NASB And they were unable to catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.
- NLT So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus' opponents failed to catch Him in His words about taxes, and were left silent and amazed at His wisdom.
Overview
After the trap about paying tribute to Caesar, the spies could find nothing to use against Jesus before the crowd. His answer silenced them and provoked wonder rather than accusation. This shows the perfect wisdom of the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 20:20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
- Matt 22:22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
- Rom 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
- Job 5:12–13He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- Luke 20:39–40Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
- Matt 22:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
- Matt 22:34But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
- Prov 26:4–5Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
- 2 Tim 3:8–9Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
- Luke 13:17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
- Titus 1:10For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 20:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.