chapters doubt that it occurred?44 b. On another view, Jesus’ words were not meant as a serious command, but ‘were merely a playful comment on their lack of ready money.’45 But that leaves open the question whether Jesus and Peter actually paid the tax. Furthermore, given the fulfillment of Jesus’ other predictions in Matthew, ‘the implied audience would assume the fulfillment of this one.’46 c. On the most natural reading of the text, Jesus supplies the needed statēr (see p. 864) miraculously. He