Luke 3:12

3:12 Tax collectors ¹  also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

Luke 15:1

The Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin

15:1 Now all the tax collectors ²  and sinners were coming ³  to hear him.

[3:12]  ¹ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked. Yet even they were moved by John’s call.

[15:1]  ² sn See the note on tax collectors in 3:12.

[15:1]  ³ tn Grk “were drawing near.”