Luke 3:12
New International Version
Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

New Living Translation
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”

English Standard Version
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

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

Berean Literal Bible
And tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

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

New King James Version
Then 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?”

NASB 1995
And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

NASB 1977
And some tax-gatherers 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?”

Amplified Bible
Even some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked, “Teacher, what are we to do?”

Christian Standard Bible
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Tax Collectors came also to be baptized, and they were saying to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

Contemporary English Version
When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?"

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, 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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

Good News Translation
Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what are we to do?"

International Standard Version
Even some tax collectors came to be baptized. They asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

Literal Standard Version
And there also came tax collectors to be immersed, and they said to him, “Teacher, what will we do?”

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

New American Bible
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

NET Bible
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

New Revised Standard Version
Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

New Heart English Bible
Tax collectors also came 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?

Weymouth New Testament
There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"

World English Bible
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must 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?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mission of John the Baptist
11John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.…

Cross References
Matthew 5:46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 21:32
For John came to you in a righteous way and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 3:10
The crowds asked him, "What then should we do?"

Luke 3:13
"Collect no more than you are authorized," he answered.

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.

Acts 2:37
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"


Treasury of Scripture

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

Luke 7:29
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Luke 15:1,2
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him…

Luke 18:13
And 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.

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Baptised Baptized Coats Collectors Food Master Others Publicans Share Tax Tax-Farmers Tax-Gatherers Teacher
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Baptised Baptized Coats Collectors Food Master Others Publicans Share Tax Tax-Farmers Tax-Gatherers Teacher
Luke 3
1. The preaching and baptism of John;
15. his testimony of Jesus;
19. Herod imprisons John;
21. Jesus, baptized, receives testimony from heaven.
23. The age and genealogy of Jesus from Joseph upwards.














(12) Then came also publicans.--The other Gospels do not mention the presence of this class in their narratives of the Baptist's work, but it is implied in Matthew 21:32.

Verse 12. - Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? This is the first time this class of men, who on several occasions come before us in the gospel story, is mentioned. The English rendering is most unhappy, for to many of our people it either suggests nothing, or else supplies a wrong chain of reasoning. The τελῶναι, the Latin publicani (whence our rendering), were men who collected the Roman taxes or imposts. These imperial taxes, the most painful and everpresent reminder to the Jew of his subject and dependent position, were in the first instance leased out to jobbers and speculators of the equestrian order; these were properly the publicani. Beneath them and in their employ were a numerous staff who performed for these farmers of the imperial revenue the various disagreeable duties connected with the collection of the taxes. Then, as now in the East, bribery, corruption, oppression, and unfair dealing, were too common among all ranks of officials First, then, the duty itself, the being concerned in the collection of a tribute - for that is what these taxes really were - for Gentile Rome, and, secondly, the various iniquities connected with the gathering of this tribute, made the tax or tribute collectors of all ranks odious among the Jews dwelling in Palestine. Many of the posts, especially the subordinate ones, in this department of tribute and taxes, were held by Jews, in all ages singularly gifted in matters which have to do with finance. The Jew, however in the days of John the Baptist, who could stoop to such an employment, lucrative though it might be, was looked upon by his stricter fellow-countrymen with feelings of intense scorn. Yet even these men are not bidden by this inspired prophet of the Highest to change their way of life, but only its manner. "Would you," he says to these men who belonged to the hated calling, "indeed wash and be clean in the eyes of the All-Seeing? then in that profession of yours, remember, be scrupulous, be honest."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

tax collectors
τελῶναι (telōnai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5057: A publican, collector of taxes. From telos and oneomai; a tax-farmer, i.e. Collector of public revenue.

came
Ἦλθον (Ēlthon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

to be baptized.
βαπτισθῆναι (baptisthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 907: Lit: I dip, submerge, but specifically of ceremonial dipping; I baptize.

“Teacher,”
Διδάσκαλε (Didaskale)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1320: A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.

they asked,
εἶπαν (eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

should we do?”
ποιήσωμεν (poiēsōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.


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NT Gospels: Luke 3:12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 3:11
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