Chapter 17

The Transfiguration

1 aSix days later Jesus * took with Him bPeter and 1James and John his brother, and * led them up on a high mountain by themselves.

2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.

3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, aI will make three 1tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, aa voice out of the cloud said, “bThis is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell 1face down to the ground and were terrified.

7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and ado not be afraid.”

8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

9 aAs they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “bTell the vision to no one until cthe Son of Man has drisen from the dead.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that aElijah must come first?”

11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things;

12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did 1to him whatever they wished. So also athe Son of Man is going to suffer 2at their hands.”

13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Demoniac

14 aWhen they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying,

15 “1Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a 2alunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”

17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured 1at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”

20 And He * said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, aif you have faith 1the size of ba mustard seed, you will say to cthis mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and dnothing will be impossible to you.

21 [“1aBut this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]

22 aAnd while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be 1delivered into the hands of men;

23 and athey will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.

The Tribute Money

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected athe 1two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay athe 1two-drachma tax?”

25 He * said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect acustoms or bpoll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”

26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are 1exempt.

27 “However, so that we do not 1aoffend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find 2a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”