Zacchaeus

Life and work

Zacchaeus worked in Jericho as a chief tax collector, a position of real wealth and real unpopularity — tax collectors in Roman Judea were seen as collaborators who routinely skimmed extra for themselves, and a 'chief' tax collector oversaw others doing the same. Luke notes he was rich and, notably, small in stature.

When Jesus passed through Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted to see him but couldn't see over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. Jesus stopped beneath it, looked up, and told him to come down because he intended to stay at his house that day — an invitation that scandalized onlookers, who grumbled that Jesus 'has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner' (Luke 19:7).

Zacchaeus's response is the heart of the story: standing before Jesus, he declared he would give half his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had defrauded — well beyond what Mosaic law required for restitution. Jesus responded, 'Today salvation has come to this house... for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost' (Luke 19:9-10).

Extra-biblical evidence

Zacchaeus appears only in Luke's Gospel; no external first-century source records him.

Scripture references

• Luke 19:1-10 — Climbs a tree to see Jesus and pledges restitution to those he defrauded

Further reading

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Zacchaeus

Reflect

Zacchaeus repaid fourfold what he had taken — is there anything you need to make right, not just feel sorry about?