Luke Chapter 19 · Verse 2
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 14
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὀνόματι
named
G3686
ὀνόματι
named
Strong's:
G3686
Word #:
4 of 14
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
καλούμενος
G2564
καλούμενος
Strong's:
G2564
Word #:
5 of 14
to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 14
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτὸς
G846
αὐτὸς
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
8 of 14
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 14
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Historical Context
Tax collectors (publicani) were among the most hated figures in first-century Judea. They collaborated with Rome's occupation forces and enriched themselves through oppression. A chief tax collector in Jericho would oversee a lucrative operation, collecting customs on balsam, dates, and other goods passing through this major trade route. Jewish religious law grouped tax collectors with prostitutes and Gentiles as those ritually unclean and outside covenant faithfulness. To dine with such a person was to incur ceremonial defilement and social disgrace.
Questions for Reflection
- What is the significance of the name 'Zacchaeus' (meaning 'pure') given his profession as a chief tax collector?
- How does Zacchaeus embody Jesus's teaching about the difficulty of rich people entering God's kingdom (Luke 18:24-25)?
- Why would a chief tax collector risk public humiliation to see Jesus?
Analysis & Commentary
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. Luke's idou (ἰδού, "behold") draws attention to this unlikely character. The name Zacchaeus (Ζακχαῖος, Zakchaios) derives from Hebrew Zakkai, meaning "pure" or "righteous"—deeply ironic given his profession. He was architelōnēs (ἀρχιτελώνης, "chief tax collector"), a term appearing only here in Scripture. This wasn't a common tax collector but the overseer of multiple collectors, making him doubly despised—both a Roman collaborator and an exploiter of fellow Jews.
The detail "he was rich" (kai autos ēn plousios, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν πλούσιος) explains how he obtained his wealth: through systematic extortion. Roman taxation was farmed out to the highest bidder, who then extracted as much as possible to profit beyond the required amount. Zacchaeus's riches came from oppressing his own people. Yet Luke presents him as the unlikely recipient of grace, following Jesus's recent teaching that what is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:27)—even a rich man entering God's kingdom.