Bible Strands
Luke 3:12
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Tax collectors approach John the Baptist immediately after his instructions on material generosity, asking him directly what specific conduct they must adopt.
The words — The Greek text specifies τελῶναι (telōnai) as "tax collectors" and βαπτισθῆναι (baptisthēnai) as "to be baptized," recording their arrival for the ritual.
The thread — This group appears elsewhere as recipients of John’s baptism (Luke 7:29), as exemplars of doing a father’s will in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 21:31), and as those gathering to hear Jesus directly (Luke 15:1).
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize that moral accountability extends to despised professions, demanding concrete behavioral adjustments rather than vague spiritual sentiment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
Cross-references
- 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.
- Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
- 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!’