Publican - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Publican

[ 1,,G5057, telones ]
primarily denoted a farmer of the tax" (from telos, "toll, custom, tax"), then, as in the NT, a subsequent subordinate of such, who collected taxes in some district, "a tax gatherer;" such were naturally hated intensely by the people; they are classed with "sinners," Matthew 9:10-Matthew 9:11; Matthew 11:9; Mark 2:15-Mark 2:16; Luke 5:30; Luke 7:34; Luke 15:1; with harlots, Matthew 21:31-Matthew 21:32; with "the Gentile," Matthew 18:17; some mss. have it in Matthew 5:47, the best have ethnikoi, "Gentiles." See also Matthew 5:46; Matthew 10:3; Luke 3:12; Luke 5:27, Luke 5:29; Luke 7:29; Luke 18:10-Luke 18:11, Luke 18:13.

Note: For architelones, "a chief publican," See CHIEF, B, No. 4.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words