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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

New Life Version

Luke 3:12

Tax-gatherers came to be baptized also. They asked him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Baptism;   Honesty;   Publicans;   Righteousness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Awakenings and Religious Reforms;   Awakenings, Religious;   Baptism;   Instruction;   John's;   Publicans;   Reception-Rejection;   Sacraments;   The Topic Concordance - Deeds;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Publicans;   Tribute;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Genealogy;   Mary;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John the baptist;   Justice;   Rabbi;   Repentance;   Tax collector;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Baptize, Baptism;   John the Baptist;   Repentance;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gospels;   Holman Bible Dictionary - John;   Luke, Gospel of;   Ordinances;   Repentance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - John the Baptist;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Asceticism (2);   Benedictus;   Common Life;   Confession (of Sin);   Eternal Punishment;   John the Baptist;   Master ;   Publican ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Herod, Family of;   Master;   Publicans;   Tribute;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - John the Baptist;   Luke, the Gospel of;   Master;   Sign;   Tax;   Teach;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Christianity in Its Relation to Judaism;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
King James Version (1611)
Then came also Publicanes to be baptized, and said vnto him, Master, what shall we doe?
King James Version
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
English Standard Version
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
New American Standard Bible
Now even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"
New Century Version
Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Amplified Bible
Even some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked, "Teacher, what are we to do?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Legacy Standard Bible
And tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Berean Standard Bible
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
Contemporary English Version
When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Tax-collectors also came to be immersed; and they asked him, "Rabbi, what should we do?"
Darby Translation
And tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?
Easy-to-Read Version
Even the tax collectors came to John. They wanted to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then came there Publicanes also to bee baptized, and saide vnto him, Master, what shall we doe?
George Lamsa Translation
And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
Good News Translation
Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"
Lexham English Bible
And tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Literal Translation
And tax collectors also came to be baptized. And they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do?
American Standard Version
And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?
Bible in Basic English
Then tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said to him, Master, what have we to do?
Hebrew Names Version
Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"
International Standard Version
Even some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"Matthew 21:32; Luke 7:29;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
The publicans [fn] also came to be baptized, and they said to him, Malphona, what shall we do?
Murdock Translation
And publicans also came to be baptized. And they said to him: Teacher, what shall we do?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then came publicanes also to be baptized, and saide vnto him: Maister, what shall we do?
English Revised Version
And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Master, what must we do?
World English Bible
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?
Weymouth's New Testament
There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And pupplicans camen to be baptisid; and thei seiden to hym, Maister, what schulen we do?
Update Bible Version
And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what must we do?
Webster's Bible Translation
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?
New English Translation
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
New King James Version
Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
New Living Translation
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?"
New Revised Standard
Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there came, even tax-collectors, to be immersed; and they said unto him - Teacher! what, shall we, do?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the publicans also came to be baptized and said to him: Master, what shall we do?
Revised Standard Version
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then came ther Publicans to be baptised and sayde vnto him: Master what shall we do?
Young's Literal Translation
And there came also tax-gatherers to be baptised, and they said unto him, `Teacher, what shall we do?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The publicans came also, to be baptysed and sayde vnto him: Master, what shal we do?
Mace New Testament (1729)
the Publicans likewise came to be baptized, and said to him, master, how are we to act?
THE MESSAGE
Tax men also came to be baptized and said, "Teacher, what should we do?"
Simplified Cowboy Version
Even those sorry, double-crossing tax collectors came to be dunked by John. They had their tails between their legs and would ask him, "Boss, what are we supposed to do?"

Contextual Overview

1 Tiberius Caesar had been ruler for fifteen years. Pontius Pilate was ruler of the country of Judea. Herod was the ruler of the country of Galilee. His brother Philip was the ruler of the countries of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was the ruler of the country of Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the head religious leaders. The Word of God came to John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias. John was in the desert. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan River. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them, and they would be forgiven. 4 The early preacher Isaiah wrote these words: "His voice calls out in the desert. ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him! 5 Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought down. The turns in the road will be made straight and the rough places will be made smooth. 6 And all men will see God saving people from the punishment of their sins.'" 7 John said to the people who came to be baptized by him, "You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from the anger of God that is coming? 8 Do something to let me see that you have turned from your sins. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you, God can make children for Abraham out of these stones. 9 Even now the ax is on the root of the trees. Every tree that does not give good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 The people asked him, "Then what should we do?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Luke 7:29, Luke 15:1, Luke 15:2, Luke 18:13, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32

Reciprocal: Isaiah 33:15 - despiseth

Cross-References

Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper that is right for him."
Genesis 2:20
Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field. But there was no helper found that was right for Adam.
Genesis 2:22
The Lord God made woman from the bone which He had taken from the man. And He brought her to the man.
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The snake fooled me, and I ate."
Genesis 3:15
And I will make you and the woman hate each other, and your seed and her seed will hate each other. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel."
Genesis 3:20
The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:21
And the Lord God made clothes of skins for Adam and his wife, and dressed them.
Genesis 3:24
So He drove the man out. And He placed cherubim east of the garden of Eden with a sword of fire that turned every way. They kept watch over the path to the tree of life.
Job 31:33
Have I hidden my sins like Adam? Have I hidden my wrong-doing in my heart,
Proverbs 19:3
The foolish acts of man make his way bad, and his heart is angry toward the Lord.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then came also publicans to be baptized,.... Being convinced under John's ministry of the evils of their past life, and desirous of being admitted to baptism, to which they understood repentance, and fruits meet for the same, were pre-requisite: these came nearer to John,

and said unto him, master, what shall we do? we have been very wicked persons, what shall we do to escape divine vengeance? or what are the particular duties we are to perform? or the fruits meet for repentance, we are to bring forth; that so we may be admitted to the ordinance of baptism, which requires, as previous to it, a true and hearty repentance? of these men,

:- :- :- :-

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The publicans - See the notes at Matthew 5:47. There is reason to think that the “publicans” or “tax-gatherers” were especially oppressive and hard in their dealings with the people; and that, as they had every opportunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus enriched themselves. The evidence of repentance in them would be to break off their sins in this respect, and to deal justly.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 3:12. 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. But it seems the Jewish tax-gatherers exacted much more from the people than government authorized them to do, Luke 3:13, and the surplus they pocketed. See the conduct of many of our surveyors and assessors. They are oppressors of the people, and enrich themselves by unjust surcharges. This, I am inclined to think, is too common an evil; and the executive government is often the people's scape-goat, to bear the crimes of its officers, crimes in which it has no concern. For an account of the publicans, Matthew 5:46; Matthew 5:46.


 
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