Luke 20:20 nasb — So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement…

NASB

"So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor."

— Luke 20:20, NASB

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Luke 20:20 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And 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.”

  • ASV

    “And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor. ”

  • WEB

    “They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.”

  • NET

    “Paying Taxes to Caesar Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.”

  • DRB

    “And being upon the watch, they sent spies, who should feign themselves just, that they might take hold of him in his words, that they might deliver him up to the authority and power of the governor.”

  • BBE

    “And they kept watch on him, and sent out secret representatives, who were acting the part of good men, in order that they might get something from his words, on account of which they might give him up to the government and into the power of the ruler.”

  • KJVA

    “And 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.”

Luke 20 — Context

17

But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone'?

18

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

19

The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.

20

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.

21

They questioned Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.

22

"Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

23

But He detected their trickery and said to them,

Luke 20:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Luke 20:20 say?
Luke 20:20 in the NASB reads: “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.”
Where is Luke 20:20 in the Bible?
Luke 20:20 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Luke, chapter 20, verse 20.
Who wrote Luke?
Luke is traditionally attributed to Luke the physician, companion of Paul. It was written c. AD 60–62.
What is the book of Luke about?
Luke writes "an orderly account" of Jesus' life from a careful historian's pen, with special attention to the poor, the outsider, women, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. From the angelic announcements at the beginning to the Emmaus road at the end, Luke shows Jesus as the Savior of the world.
What are the major themes of Luke?
Luke explores themes including Salvation for All, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Compassion, Joy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Luke 20:20.
What translation should I read Luke 20:20 in?
Luke 20:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Luke 20:20?
Luke 20:20 reads (NASB): “So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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