harisee, "is it right to pay taxes to the Romans or
not?"

Peter knew instantly that it was a trap. If Jesus answered that the Jews
should pay the Roman tax, he would be called a traitor to his people. If
he said the tax was wrong, he would be reported to Pilate and arrested.
A clever trick!

"Why do you try to trap me?" demanded Jesus. "Bring me a Roman coin." He
held it up and asked the Pharisee, "Whose picture is stamped on this?"

"Caesar's," he answered.

"All right, then," said Jesus. "Give to the Romans what belongs to
them--but be sure that you give to God what belongs to him!"

Jesus had escaped the trap, but Peter was puzzled. What could he mean by
saying, "Give to the Romans what belongs to them"? They were not going
to live under the Romans much longer!

The people were angry with this attempt to trick Jesus. They murmured
threats when another scribe spoke up, "Rabbi, what is the most important
command in the Law?"

Jesus replied without hesitating. "The Lord your God is one God and you
must love him with your whole heart, your whole soul; your whole mind,
and your whole strength. And the second is this: You must love your
neighbor as yourself. No commands are greater than these."

"I think you are right, Rabbi," answered the scribe thoughtfully. "It is
much more important to love God and one's neighbor sincerely than to
make many sacrifices in the Temple."

The disciples were suspicious; what new trick was this? But Jesus
answered the scribe warmly. "You are not far from the Kingdom of God!"

Andrew came through the crowd toward Peter. "Have you seen Judas?"

"We were talking just a minute ago." Both the men searched among the
people. "He must have gone!" The fishermen were puzzled. "He did not
want the officials to see him with us," remarked Peter.

Later in the afternoon the people began to leave the Temple court. The
disciples became anxious. With hardly anyone around, the Romans could
easily arrest Jesus! In a few more minutes there would be almost no one
in the Temple. But still Jesus talked to a few persons who needed him.
When they left the men sighed with relief. "Where is Judas?" asked
Jesus. Not one of the disciples knew.

* * * * *

Judas had not left the Temple, as Peter supposed. At that very moment he
was only a few yards away from them. After talking to Peter, he had
walked through the inner court to the council chamber of the high
priest. His k