Paragraph 3:12–13

3:12a

Even tax collectors: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tax collectors refers to Jewish men who collected tax money from people for the government. Most people hated tax collectors because:

(a) the tax collectors worked for a government that oppressed the people;

(b) tax collectors often collected more money than the law required, and they kept the extra for themselves.

If you do not have a word in your language for “tax collectors,” you could describe them as:

men who collected tax money for the government

came to be baptized: This indicates the purpose of these tax collectors for coming to where John was. They came out to John in order to be baptized.

This is similar to what Luke said about the crowds in 3:7a. There he said that the crowds came “to be baptized by him.” Here in 3:12a, “by him” is only implied. The phrase to be baptized is passive. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb here, you may indicate that they came for John to baptize them, as it says in 3:7a. For example:

in order ⌊for John to⌋ baptize them
-or-

⌊for him⌋ to baptize them

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to be baptized is a verb form of the Greek noun the Berean Standard Bible translates as “baptism” in 3:3c. See the note there.

3:12b

Teacher: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Teacher was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. Use a title that is an appropriate way to address a religious teacher in your culture. It should not refer only to a school teacher. Some possible titles are:

Sir
-or-
Master

they asked: The Berean Standard Bible has placed the words they asked in the middle of what the tax collectors said. Place these words where it is natural in your language.

what should we do?: This is the same question as in 3:10. However, here it does not include the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates in 3:10 as “then.”

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