SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:2
y he aquí un varn llamado Zaqueo, el cual era el principal de los publicanos, y era rico;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 19:2
Verse 2. Zaccheus] It is not unlikely that this person was a Jew by birth, see ver. 9; but because he had engaged in a business so infamous, in the eyes of the Jews, he was considered as a mere heathen, ver. 7. Chief among the publicans] Either a farmer-general of the taxes, who had subordinate collectors under him: or else the most respectable and honourable 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And behold [there was] a man named Zacchaeus , etc.] Or yakz , Zaccai, a name in use among the Jews; (see Ezra 2:9). We often read of yakz ybr , Rabbi Zaccai, or Zacchaeus f601 , and very frequently of R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a famous doctor that lived in the times of Christ, and even till after the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jews also make mention of one R. Zaccai, a prince of the seed of David the king, in later times f602 . So that this man, as appears by his name, was a Jew, though some have thought him to have been a Gentile f603 , perhaps because of his employment: but it does not follow from thence; for there were Jews that were publicans, as Levi, or Matthew, afterwards one of Christ's disciples; and also in Jewish writings, mention is made, as of yrkn skwm , a stranger, or a Gentile publican f604 , so likewise of lary skwm , an Israelite publican f605 ; and such an one was Zacchaeus, as follows: which was chief among the publicans ; the head of them in that place, to whom the rest brought the tax, tribute, or toll; he was the receiver general of the tax: at the toll booths, at bridges, for people's going over the water, there was lwdg skwm , the greater publican, and wjq skwm , the lesser publican f606 , who was deputy to the other. What sort of tax Zacchaeus was concerned in collecting, is not certain; however, he was a principal man in this employ, and had got great riches by it. And he was rich ; was a person of figure among the publicans, and of substance, which he had gained in his post. And though the instances of rich men being called by grace are few, yet there have been some; and the rather this circumstance is mentioned, because it had been observed in the preceding chapter, how difficult, but not impossible, as this instance proves, it was for rich men to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will brea through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himsel to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, an inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and com down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with him Zaccheus gave proofs publicly that he was become a true convert. He does not look to be justified by his works, as the Pharisee; but by his good works he will, through the grace of God, show the sincerity of his faith and repentance. Zaccheus is declared to be a happy man, now he is turned from sin to God. Now that he is saved from his sins, from the guilt of them, from the power of them, all the benefits of salvatio are his. Christ is come to his house, and where Christ comes he bring salvation with him. He came into this lost world to seek and to sav it. His design was to save, when there was no salvation in any other He seeks those that sought him not, and asked not for him.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ιδου 2400 5628 V-2AAM-2S ανηρ 435 N-NSM ονοματι 3686 N-DSN καλουμενος 2564 5746 V-PPP-NSM ζακχαιος 2195 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ αυτος 846 P-NSM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S αρχιτελωνης 754 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ ουτος 3778 D-NSM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S πλουσιος 4145 A-NSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Named (onomati kaloumenov). Lit., called by name. Compare ch. i. 61.Zacchaeus. Saccai, "the just."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
19:2 {Chief publican} (arcitelwnes). The word occurs nowhere else apparently but the meaning is clear from the other words with arci- like arciereus (chief priest) arcipoimen (chief shepherd). Jericho was an important trading point for balsam and other things and so Zacchaeus was the head of the tax collections in this region, a sort of commissioner of taxes who probably had other publicans serving under him.
