For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward will you get for that? Do not even the publicans [Note: These were people with a bad reputation for their dishonest tax collecting activities] do that much?
Luke 3:12 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Then some tax collectors came to him to be immersed and asked him, “Teacher, what must we do [i.e., to demonstrate our repentance]?” More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they said to him, Teacher, what shall we do? American Standard Version (1901) And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? Common English Bible Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” Catholic Public Domain Version Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And the publicans also came to be baptized, and said to him: Master, what shall we do? |
For if you love [only] those who love you, what reward will you get for that? Do not even the publicans [Note: These were people with a bad reputation for their dishonest tax collecting activities] do that much?
But the tax collector stood at a distance [i.e., inconspicuously] and would not even look up to heaven, but struck his chest [i.e., in remorse], saying, ‘God, [please] have mercy on a sinner like me [i.e., “cover over” or forgive my sins].’
Then the crowds asked him, “What then must we do [i.e., to demonstrate our repentance]?”
And he answered them; “Do not collect any more [tax money] than you are required to.”
And when all the people, together with the tax collectors, heard this they praised God for being so just, and were immersed with the immersion [preached] by John.
Now when the people heard this message [of Peter and the other apostles, See verse 14], they were convicted [of its truth] in their hearts and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do [about our condemned condition]?”