5:27 After 1 this, Jesus 2 went out and saw a tax collector 3 named Levi 4 sitting at the tax booth. 5 “Follow me,” 6 he said to him.
1 tn Grk “And after.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
3 sn See the note on tax collectors in 3:12.
4 sn It is possible that Levi is a second name for Matthew, because people often used alternative names in 1st century Jewish culture.
5 tn While “tax office” is sometimes given as a translation for τελώνιον (telwnion; so L&N 57.183), this could give the modern reader a false impression of an indoor office with all its associated furnishings.
6 sn Follow me. For similar calls on the part of Jesus see Luke 5:10-11; 9:23, 59; 18:22.