Luke 3 · Verse 12

Luke 3:12

Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
Luke 3:12, King James Version

Luke 3:12 in other translations

BSBEven tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
WEBTax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
ASVAnd there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?
YLTAnd there came also tax-gatherers to be baptised, and they said unto him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?'
DARBYAnd tax-gatherers came also to be baptised, and they said to him, Teacher, what should we do?
BBEThen tax-farmers came to him for baptism and said to him, Master, what have we to do?
WebsterThen came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?

What does Luke 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 3:10-14

10-14. What shall we do then?--to show the sincerity of our repentance. (Also see on Mt 3:10.)

Read the full comment on Luke 3:10-14 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. The publicans (i) .

Mt 5:47.

There is reason to think that the publicans or tax-gatherers were peculiarly 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.

(i) Mt 21:32, Lk 7:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Then 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 Jewish tax-gatherers exacted much more from the people than government authorized them to do, Luk 3:13, and the surplus they pocketed. See the conduct of many of our surveyors and assessors. They are oppressors of the people, and enrich themselves by unjust surcharges. This, I am inclined to think, is too common an evil; and the executive government is often the people's scape-goat, to bear the crimes of its officers, crimes in which it has no concern. For an account of the publicans, see the note on Mat 5:46.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 3:1-14

The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins, and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and renewal of heart, which…

Read the full comment on Luke 3:1-14 →

Luke 3:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἦλθονēlthonCameG2064
δὲdethenG1161
καὶkaialsoG2532
τελῶναιtelōnaitax collectorsG5057
βαπτισθῆναιbaptisthēnaito be baptizedG907
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπανeipanthey saidG2036
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτόν·autonhim;G846
διδάσκαλε,didaskaleTeacher,G1320
τίtiwhatG5101
ποιήσωμεν;poiēsōmenshall we do?G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 3:12

  • Luke 7:29

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

  • 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.

  • Luke 15:1-2

    Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

  • Matthew 21:31-32

    Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:29; 15:1,2; 18:13; Mt 21:31,32

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 3:11

    He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

  • Luke 3:12

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

  • Luke 3:13

    And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

Read all of Luke 3

Luke 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vinieron también publicanos para ser bautizados, y le dijeron: Maestro, ¿qué haremos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et des publicains vinrent aussi pour être baptisés; et ils lui dirent: Maître, que faut-il que nous fassions?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es kamen aber auch Zöllner, um getauft zu werden; und sie sprachen zu ihm: Lehrer, was sollen wir tun?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Venerunt autem et publicani ut baptizarentur, et dixerunt ad illum: Magister, quid faciemus?