Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
Parallel translations
- WEB Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
- BSB Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
- NKJV Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
- NASB Now even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
- NLT Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even tax collectors, despised as collaborators and cheats, come to be baptized and ask how to repent. The gospel reaches the outcast and despised.
Overview
Tax collectors were widely hated as agents of Rome and notorious for fraud, yet they too come seeking baptism and ask what they must do. Their inclusion shows the breadth of John's ministry and anticipates Jesus' welcome of tax collectors and sinners. Repentance is open to all who will turn from sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Luke 7:29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
- Luke 18:13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
- Matt 21:31–32Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 15:1–2Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 3:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.