I lost patience with three other shepherds, who hated me, and I got rid of them all in a single month.

The chief priests were accusing Jesus of many things,

Again Jesus refused to say a word, and Pilate was amazed.

Their answer was, "We would not have brought him to you if he had not committed a crime."

But they insisted even more strongly, "With his teaching he is starting a riot among the people all through Judea. He began in Galilee and now has come here."

When Ahab saw him, he said, "So there you are---the worst troublemaker in Israel!"

Then the officials went to the king and said, "This man must be put to death. By talking like this he is making the soldiers in the city lose their courage, and he is doing the same thing to everyone else left in the city. He is not trying to help the people; he only wants to hurt them."

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, then sent a report to King Jeroboam of Israel: "Amos is plotting against you among the people. His speeches will destroy the country.

They brought them before the Roman officials and said, "These men are Jews, and they are causing trouble in our city.

They are teaching customs that are against our law; we are Roman citizens, and we cannot accept these customs or practice them."

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city authorities and shouted, "These men have caused trouble everywhere! Now they have come to our city,

and Jason has kept them in his house. They are all breaking the laws of the Emperor, saying that there is another king, whose name is Jesus."

We found this man to be a dangerous nuisance; he starts riots among Jews all over the world and is a leader of the party of the Nazarenes.

So they looked for an opportunity. They bribed some men to pretend they were sincere, and they sent them to trap Jesus with questions, so that they could hand him over to the authority and power of the Roman Governor.

Tell us, is it against our Law for us to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?"

"Show me a silver coin. Whose face and name are these on it?" "The Emperor's," they answered.

Get a couple of scoundrels to accuse him to his face of cursing God and the king. Then take him out of the city and stone him to death."

They proclaimed a day of fasting, called the people together, and gave Naboth the place of honor.

Evil people testify against me and accuse me of crimes I know nothing about.

You only want to bring him down from his place of honor; you take pleasure in lies. You speak words of blessing, but in your heart you curse him.

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows.

They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. "No one can see them," they say.

I hear everybody whispering, "Terror is everywhere! So let's report him to the authorities!" Even my close friends wait for my downfall. "Perhaps he can be tricked," they say; "then we can catch him and get revenge."

But when I reached the Benjamin Gate, the officer in charge of the soldiers on duty there, a man by the name of Irijah, the son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, stopped me and said, "You are deserting to the Babylonians!"

They were furious with me and had me beaten and locked up in the house of Jonathan, the court secretary, whose house had been made into a prison.

But we don't want to offend these people. So go to the lake and drop in a line. Pull up the first fish you hook, and in its mouth you will find a coin worth enough for my Temple tax and yours. Take it and pay them our taxes."

"The Emperor's," they answered. So Jesus said to them, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God."

The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some false evidence against Jesus to put him to death;

but they could not find any, even though many people came forward and told lies about him. Finally two men stepped up

So Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at Jesus.

The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any.

Many witnesses told lies against Jesus, but their stories did not agree.

Nor can they give you proof of the accusations they now bring against me.

but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.

For Christ died for sins once and for all, a good man on behalf of sinners, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death physically, but made alive spiritually,

But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of Almighty God."

They all said, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He answered them, "You say that I am."

But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest questioned him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?"

"I am," answered Jesus, "and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!"

Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my kingdom does not belong here!"

When Pilate heard this, he tried to find a way to set Jesus free. But the crowd shouted back, "If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor's friend! Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against the Emperor!"