Luke 3:12

Luke 3:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
• New International Version (NIV)Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

Context of Luke 3:12

10‘So what should we do?’ the crowd asked. 11John answered, ‘If you have two shirts, give one away. Give it to someone who does not have even one shirt. If you have some food, give some of it away. Give some to someone who has no food.’ In the crowd, there were men who took taxes from people. These men also wanted John to baptize them. They asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13John told them, ‘You must take the right amount of money from people. You must not take more money than the rules say you should take.’ 14Then some soldiers asked John, ‘What about us? What should we do?’ John replied, ‘Do not rob people of their money. Do not say that a person is guilty if he has not done anything wrong. You must not take money for yourself in that way. You should be happy with the money that you receive for your work.’

Luke 3:12 word by word

ἦλθον δὲ καὶ τελῶναι βαπτισθῆναι καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσωμεν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenδέde · thenG1161
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• publicansτελώνηςtelōnēs · tax collectorG5057
• to be baptizedβαπτίζωbaptizō · to baptizeG907
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Masterδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• shall we doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160

Cross-references for Luke 3:12

• Luke 7:29Many people heard what Jesus said. Even the men who took taxes from people agreed with his message. They had gone to John to baptize them. They all said, ‘What God says about us is right.’
• Luke 15:1One day, many bad people and men who took taxes from people were coming round Jesus. They all wanted to hear what Jesus was saying.
• Luke 18:13But the other man stood far away. He would not even look up towards heaven. He was hitting his body with his hands to show how sorry he was. He prayed like this: “Please, God, be kind to me. I have done many bad things.” ’
• Matthew 21:31Tell me, which of the man's sons did what his father wanted?’ The Jewish leaders replied, ‘The older son did what his father wanted.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you this: The men who take taxes from people are going into the kingdom of God before you. It is the same with prostitutes. They also are going into the kingdom of God before you.

Commentaries on Luke 3:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Then 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The 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.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12even tax collectors: In the first century, many people strongly disliked tax collectors. They were known for taking extra money and were seen as working for the Roman rulers, who were widely hated.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1410-14. What shall we do then?--to show the sincerity of our repentance. (Also see on Mt 3:10.)Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 3:12

• Baptism
• Honesty
• Publicans
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Demand
• Mary
• Reprove
• Unquenchable
• Violence
• Wages
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Jesus Christ
• John the Baptist
• Luke, the Gospel of

Commentaries on Luke 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings