Luke 20:20
 Luke 20:20 
New International Version (©2011)
Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.

English Standard Version (©2001)
So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
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.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so they could catch Him in what He said, to hand Him over to the governor's rule and authority.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction of the governor,

NET Bible (©2006)
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And they sent spies who imitated righteous men to catch him in discourse and to deliver him to the Judge and to the authority of the Governor.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who should pretend 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.

American King James Version
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 to the power and authority of the governor.

American Standard Version
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Darby Bible Translation
And having watched him, they sent out suborned persons, pretending to be just men, that they might take hold of him in his language, so that they might deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

English Revised Version
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governor.

Weymouth New Testament
So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
And, having watched him, they sent forth liers in wait, feigning themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his word, to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:20-26 Those who are most crafty in their designs against Christ and his gospel, cannot hide them. He did not give a direct answer, but reproved them for offering to impose upon him; and they could not fasten upon any thing wherewith to stir up either the governor or the people against him. The wisdom which is from above, will direct all who teach the way of God truly, to avoid the snares laid for them by wicked men; and will teach our duty to God, to our rulers, and to all men, so clearly, that opposers will have no evil to say of us.


Pulpit Commentary

Verses 20-26 - The question of the tribute money. Verse 20. - And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take held of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. In their intense hatred, conscious that the populace were on the whole in sympathy with Jesus, the Sanhedrim, to carry out their design on his life, determined to avail themselves of the hated Roman military police. Their hope henceforward is to substantiate a charge of treason against him. This was, in those troublous times, when insurrection against the detested Gentile rule was ever being plotted, a comparatively easy matter. The incident of the tribute money, which immediately follows, was part of this new departure in the Sanhedrin policy respecting the murder they so longed to see carried out.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they watched him,.... What he said, and what he did, and where he went, that they might take an advantage against him, or know where he was, to send to him, as they should think fit, and take the best opportunity of so doing. The Syriac and Persic versions leave out this clause:

and sent forth spies which should feign themselves just men: of virtue and religion, conscientious men, that would do nothing but what was just and right, and were desirous of being exactly informed of the truth of things, that they might act right in every punctilio:

that might take hold of his words; improve them, and form a charge upon them, of sedition and treason:

that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor; the Roman governor, and by him be put to death. These men were some of them the disciples of the Pharisees, and others were Herodians; see Matthew 22:16.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 20:20-40. Entangling Questions about Tribute and the Resurrection—The Replies.

20-26. sent forth—after consulting (Mt 22:15) on the best plan.

spies—"of the Pharisees and Herodians" (Mr 12:13). See Mr 3:6.


Luke 20:20 Parallel Commentaries

Luke 20:20 NIV
Luke 20:20 NLT
Luke 20:20 ESV
Luke 20:20 NASB
Luke 20:20 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Paying Taxes to Caesar
19And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. 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 to the power and authority of the governor. 21And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither accept you the person of any, but teach the way of God truly: …

Daniel 6:4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.
Matthew 27:2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
Mark 3:2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
Mark 12:13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
Luke 11:54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.
Luke 20:21 So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Luke 20:26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Act Acting Authority Catch Close Deliver Expression Fasten Feign Feigned Forth Good Governor Hand Hold Honest Hoped Jesus Jurisdiction Keeping Kept Opportunity Order Part Power Pretended Representatives Righteous Rule Secret Something Speech Spies Statement Themselves Trap Watched Watching Words


Luke Chapter 20 Verse 20

Alphabetical: a and authority be catch close could deliver governor hand he him honest hoped in Jesus Keeping might of on order over power pretended righteous rule said sent so some something spies statement that the they to watch watched who

NT Gospels: Luke 20:20 They watched him and sent out spies (Luke Lu Lk) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

Luke 20:20 Bible Apps
Luke 20:20 Bible Suite
Luke 20:20 Biblia Paralela
Luke 20:20 Chinese Bible
Luke 20:20 French Bible
Luke 20:20 German Bible