Luke 3:12 BSB — MannaFest

Luke 3:12

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?

KJV

Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

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Commentary

3 voices

Ambrose of Milan

EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.77 (397)

The Baptist gave a fitting response to each kind of people. To the tax collectors he said that they should not exact payment beyond what was appointed. To the soldiers, that they should not make false accusations or rob anyone, by which he meant that their pay was fixed, so that wanting to have more, they could not resort to plunder. These and other precepts are appropriate for all occupations, and the practice of compassion is shared. Thus it is a common precept that the basic necessities of life must be provided for all occupations, all ages and all people.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Origen of Alexandria

HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 23.5, 9 (253)

"Tax collectors also came to be baptized." According to the simple interpretation, he teaches the tax collectors to seek "no more" than the law commands. Those who exact more transgress not John's commandment but that of the Holy Spirit, who spoke through John.…We said all this to show that John taught the tax collectors. Among them there were not only those who collected revenue for the state, but also those who were coming for repentance and were not literally tax collectors. And others were soldiers who were going out to the baptism of repentance.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Then came also publicans - He next instructs the tax-gatherers in the proper discharge of their duty: though it was an office detested by the Jews at large, yet the Baptist does not condemn it. It is only the abuse of it that he speaks against. If taxes be necessary for the support of a state, there must be collectors of them; and the collector, if he properly discharge his duty, is not only a useful, but also a respectable officer.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἦλθον	ēlthon	Came	G2064 →
δὲ	de	then	G1161 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
τελῶναι	telōnai	tax collectors	G5057 →
βαπτισθῆναι	baptisthēnai	to be baptized	G907 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
εἶπαν	eipan	they said	G2036 →
πρὸς	pros	to	G4314 →
αὐτόν·	auton	him;	G846 →
διδάσκαλε,	didaskale	Teacher,	G1320 →
τί	ti	what	G5101 →
ποιήσωμεν;	poiēsōmen	shall we do?	G4160 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
leads to
- Ezra 9:6
  and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
- 1 John 1:8–10
  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 Timothy 1:15
  This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
- Psalms 41:4
  I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”
- Hebrews 8:12
  For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
Through
Luke 7:29
All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
leads to
- Luke 7:35
  But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
- Acts 19:3
  “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
- Revelation 16:5
  And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments.

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About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Luke: the study guide →Read chapter 3 →The featured study →

Continue: Luke 3 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Luke

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Luke