Luke 3:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Tax collectors also come to be baptized and ask John what they must do, addressing him as Master.
What Does Luke 3:12 Mean?
Now the crowd parts for an unexpected group. Publicans gathered tolls and taxes under Rome's system, and their countrymen despised them as collaborators grown rich on extra charges. Yet here they stand in the baptism line, calling the desert preacher Master.
That they came at all is the wonder; that John does not send them away is the good news. The door of repentance opens even to professions wrapped in suspicion. Luke is preparing us for Jesus, who will call a publican to follow him and invite himself to dinner at a publican's house. No occupation, and no reputation, puts a person beyond the reach of the call to turn.
Luke 3:12 in the Original Language
telones (τελώνης), 'publican' -- a collector of tolls and taxes for Rome, widely despised as a profiteer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 3:12
What does Luke 3:12 mean?
Tax collectors also come to be baptized and ask John what they must do, addressing him as Master.