Luke 19:1-10

Expanded Bible

Zacchaeus Meets Jesus

19 Jesus [^Lentered and] was going through the city of Jericho. ² A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a ·very important [chief; leading] tax collector [^Cwith oversight over other tax collectors, and so even more hated; see 18:10], and he was wealthy. ³ He ·wanted [was trying] to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. ⁴ He ran ahead to a place where Jesus ·would come [was about to pass], and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. ⁵ When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! [^LFor; Because] I must stay at your house today.”

⁶ Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him ·gladly [joyfully]. ⁷ All the people saw this and began to ·complain [murmur; grumble], “Jesus ·is staying with [has gone in to lodge with/be the guest of] a sinner!”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord [^Cthe scene presumably changes here to a meal at Zacchaeus’ home], “[^LLook; ^TBehold] I ·will give [or I am now giving] half of my possessions to the poor. And ·if I have cheated anyone [or to those I have cheated/extorted], I will pay back four times more [^Ca generous response, since the law required only restitution plus one-fifth; Lev. 6:1–5].”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, because this man also ·belongs to the family [^Lis a son] of Abraham. ¹⁰ [^LFor; Because] The Son of Man came to ·find [seek out] lost people and save them.”