The difficulty of reconciling Christian faith with political life is as old as Christianity itself. Perhaps the most explicit question put to Jesus about the relationship elicited arguably his most enigmatic response. When asked whether it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar, Jesus asks whose picture is on the coin used to pay the tax. When told that it is Caesar’s image, Jesus replies, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God”. All three of the synoptic Gospels record the exchange, and all three conclude that Jesus’ accusers were “amazed” or “marvelled” or “wondered” at his answer. Of course, both Jesus’ response and the reaction of the crowd are uncertain. It is not at all clear how Jesus’ words should be interpreted. Nor is it obvious why the people were amazed at his answer. Both the answer and the reaction are ambiguous.