Matthew 17 good news bible

Here is Matthew 17 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Matthew 17

Jesus Takes Peter, James, and John to the Mountain

17:1 Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain. There, in their presence, he was transfigured. 2 His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter exclaimed, "Lord, it's wonderful to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 He didn't know what to say, because they were so frightened.

6 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 7 When the voice finished speaking, Jesus was alone again. They kept this experience to themselves, discussing what it meant.

The Healing of a Boy with Epilepsy

8 When they came down the mountain, a large crowd met them. A man came up to Jesus and fell on his knees, saying, 9 "Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and often falls into the fire or into water. 10 I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn't heal him."

11 Jesus replied, "You people have no faith! How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 12 Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, saying, "You spirit that causes him to have seizures and convulsions, I command you to come out of him now!"

13 The spirit screamed, threw the boy into a violent convulsion, and then came out of him. The boy was like a corpse, so still and pale. 14 Jesus took the boy's father and mother and the disciples and went to a house. 15 But the people were discussing this, asking each other, "What does this mean? He healed the boy, but he's not a Jew!"

Jesus' Second Prediction of His Death

16 Jesus went to the disciples and said, "We're going to Jerusalem. Everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will happen. 17 He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and he will be mocked, beaten, and crucified. On the third day, he will rise again."

18 Then the disciples understood that he was talking about himself. 19 They were filled with grief and didn't know what to say.

The Temple Tax

20 They came to Capernaum, and the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

21 "Yes," he replied. 22 When Jesus went into the house, Peter said, "Lord, the collectors of the temple tax came to me and asked if you pay the temple tax."

23 "Yes," Jesus replied. "The people don't have to pay the temple tax, but we do." 24 When Jesus went to the temple, he found that the collectors of the temple tax were sitting there. 25 "Show me a denarius," he said to them. "Whose picture and name are on it?"

26 "The emperor's," they replied. 27 Then Jesus said to them, "Well, then, give to the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give to God what belongs to God." 28 Peter said, "Look, we didn't know that!"

29 Jesus replied, "You people are so clever! You know the laws of Moses, but you don't know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the kingdom of God, and you're not interested in it."