After six days, ‘Isa took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3Behold, Musa and Ilyas appeared to them talking with him.
4Peter answered, and said to ‘Isa, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Musa, and one for Ilyas.“
5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.“
6When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7‘Isa came and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.“ 8Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except ‘Isa alone. 9As they were coming down from the mountain, ‘Isa commanded them, saying, “Do not tell anyone what you saw, until Ibn Adam has risen from the dead.“
10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Ilyas must come first?“
11‘Isa answered them, “Ilyas indeed comes first, and will restore all things,[1] 12but I tell you that Ilyas has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so Ibn Adam will also suffer by them.“ 13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of Prophet Yahya.
14When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.“
17‘Isa answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.“ 18‘Isa rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
19Then the disciples came to ‘Isa privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?“
20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most assuredly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.“
22While they were staying in Galilee, ‘Isa said to them, “Ibn Adam is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, 23and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.“
They were very sorry. 24When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins[2] came to Peter, and said, “Does not your teacher pay the didrachma?“ 25He said, “Yes.“
When he came into the house, ‘Isa anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?“
26Peter said to him, “From strangers.“
‘Isa said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt. 27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin.[3] Take that, and give it to them for me and you.“
[1] 17:11 See the Taurat, Malachi 4:5-6.
[2] 17:24 A didrachma is a Greek silver coin worth 2 drachmas, about as much as 2 Roman denarii, or about 2 days wages. It was commonly used to pay the half-shekel temple tax, because 2 drachmas were worth one half shekel of silver.
[3] 17:27 A stater is a silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to cover the half-shekel Temple Tax for two people.