Luke 19:2
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
A man, named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax-farmer, and a man of wealth,
Webster's Revision
And behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, who was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
World English Bible
There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.
Clarke's Luke 19:2 Bible Commentary
Zaccheus - It is not unlikely that this person was a Jew by birth, see Luke 19:9; but because he had engaged in a business so infamous, in the eyes of the Jews, he was considered as a mere heathen, Luke 19:7.
Chief among the publicans - Either a farmer-general of the taxes, who had subordinate collectors under him: or else the most respectable and honorable man among that class at Jericho.
He was rich - And therefore the more unlikely to pay attention to an impoverished Messiah, preaching a doctrine of universal mortification and self-denial.
Barnes's Luke 19:2 Bible Commentary
A man named Zacchaeus - The name Zacchaeus is Hebrew, and shows that this man was a "Jew." The Hebrew name properly means "pure," and is the same as Zacchai in Ezra 2:9; Nehemiah 7:14. The publicans, therefore, were not all foreigners.
Chief among the publicans - Who presided over other tax-gatherers, or who "received" their collections and transmitted them to the Roman government.
He was rich - Though this class of people was despised and often infamous, yet it seems that they were sometimes wealthy. They sustained, however, the general character of "sinners," because they were particularly odious in the eyes of the Jews. See Luke 19:7. The evangelist has thought it worthy of record that he was rich, perhaps, because it was so unlikely that a "rich man" should follow so poor and despised a personage as Jesus of Nazareth, and because it was so unusual a thing during his personal ministry. Not many rich were called, but God chiefly chose the poor of this world Compare 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
Wesley's Luke 19:2 Bible Commentary
19:2 The chief of the publicans - What we would term, commissioner of the customs. A very honourable as well as profitable place.