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Zacchaeus

the one in the sycamore

Who was Zacchaeus?

Occupation
A chief tax collector; tax collectors were also called publicans Luke 19:2
Zacchaeus, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Luke 19:1-2

1And entering in, he walked through Jericho. 2And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich.

Luke 19:3-4

3And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. 4And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him; for he was to pass that way.

Luke 19:5-6

5And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him, and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide in thy house. 6And he made haste and came down; and received him with joy.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Zacchaeus

  1. Before Jesus. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho, and he was rich. Luke 19:2
  2. With Jesus. He wanted to see who Jesus was. But he was short, and the crowd blocked his view. Luke 19:3
  3. With Jesus. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus pass by. Luke 19:4
  4. With Jesus. Jesus looked up and called Zacchaeus by name. He told Zacchaeus to hurry down, because that day he had to stay at the tax collector’s house. Luke 19:5
  5. With Jesus. Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Jesus with joy. The people began to grumble, because Jesus was going to stay at a sinner’s house. Luke 19:6-7
  6. With Jesus. Zacchaeus promised to give half of what he owned to the poor. And if he had overcharged anyone, he would pay it back four times over. Luke 19:8
  7. With Jesus. Jesus declared that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus that day. Luke 19:9
  8. Afterward. According to Tradition: An ancient writing that is not in the Bible says he became the first bishop of Caesarea. Apostolic Constitutions VII, 46

Words of Zacchaeus

“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold.” Luke 19:8

When he had welcomed Jesus into his home and the people were grumbling.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

Not to be confused with

In the Church today

In art, recognized by: Up in a sycamore tree From Lc 19, 4; this is how Christian art shows him

Zacchaeus in art

Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Awaiting the Passage of Jesus, by James Tissot
Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Awaiting the Passage of Jesus, James Tissot, 1886-1894. Brooklyn Museum, New York
The Calling of Zacchaeus, by Otto van Veen
The Calling of Zacchaeus, Otto van Veen, h. 1605-1607. Royal Museum of Fine Arts (KMSKA), Antwerp

What people ask

What kind of tree did Zacchaeus climb?

A sycamore, a kind of fig tree. Luke 19:4

Was Zacchaeus a thief?

The Bible doesn’t say he stole. People considered him a sinner, and he promised to pay back four times anything he had overcharged. Luke 19:7-8

What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus?

To hurry down, because that day Jesus had to stay at the house of Zacchaeus. Later, Jesus said that salvation had come to that house. Luke 19:5, 9

Which Gospel tells the story of Zacchaeus?

Only the Gospel of Luke. Luke 19:1-10; NABRE note on Lc 19, 1-10

What happened to Zacchaeus afterward?

The Bible doesn’t say. An ancient writing says he became the first bishop of Caesarea. That comes from tradition, not from the Bible. Apostolic Constitutions VII, 46

Daily life He was a chief tax collector in Jericho, and he was rich. Luke 19:2 Their failings People considered him a sinner. He promised that if he had overcharged…

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Who Zacchaeus is connected to

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All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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