Peter's Story
A painting of Jesus speaking with Peter about the temple tax

Peter's Story · Event 12 of 38

The Coin in the Fish

Following Jesus · Capernaum

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Matthew 17:24–27

24When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" 25"Yes, he does," Peter answered. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first: "What do you think, Simon? Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and duties from — their own children or from others?" 26"From others," Peter replied. Jesus said, "Then the children are exempt." 27But so we don't cause an offense, go to the lake and cast a hook. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you'll find a piece of money. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.

Read Matthew 17
Up next“How Many Times Shall I Forgive?”Matthew 18:21–35

About this event

What happened?

In Capernaum, the men who collected the two-drachma tax, usually understood as the temple tax, asked Peter if his teacher paid it. “Yes,” he said. When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke first. He asked whether kings collect taxes from their own sons or from others. “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are free,” Jesus said. But so as not to offend them, he told Peter to go to the sea and cast a hook. In the mouth of the first fish he caught, he would find a coin to pay the tax for them both.

Who is here?

  • Jesus
  • The men collecting the two-drachma tax

Where did this happen?

Capernaum

A town by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus lived here during his work in Galilee.

Where this fits

Event 7 of 8 in Following Jesus: Peter walks on the water, says Jesus is the Christ, and sees him transfigured.

Good to know

Matthew records Jesus' instructions but does not describe the catch itself.

Keep exploring

Before thisOn the Mountain with JesusMatthew 17:1–8After this“How Many Times Shall I Forgive?”Matthew 18:21–35

Peter's Story