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Read the Bible

New King James Version

Mark 2:15

Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Matthew;   Scofield Reference Index - Parables;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Publicans;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Capernaum;   Food;   Matthew;   Tax collector;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Forgiveness;   Hospitality;   Kingdom of God;   Lord's Supper, the;   Work;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Publican;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Mark, the Gospel of;   Meat;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Cosmopolitanism;   Following;   Gospel (2);   Individuality;   Law (2);   Logia;   Mark, Gospel According to;   Matthew ;   Matthew (2);   Meals;   Miracles (2);   Paradox;   Persecution;   Publican ;   Reality;   Scorn;   Sinners;   Sympathy;   Winter ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Publicans;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sinner;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Simon Cephas;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, that as Iesus sate at meate in his house, many Publicanes and sinners sate also together with Iesus and his disciples: for there were many, & they followed him.
King James Version
And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
English Standard Version
And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
New American Standard Bible
And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.
New Century Version
Later, as Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating there with Jesus and his followers. Many people like this followed Jesus.
Amplified Bible
And it happened that Jesus was reclining at the table in Levi's house, and many tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were eating with Him and His disciples; for there were many of them and they were following Him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.
Legacy Standard Bible
And it *happened that as He was reclining at the table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples. For there were many of them, and they were following Him.
Berean Standard Bible
While Jesus was dining at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples-for there were many who followed Him.
Contemporary English Version
Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and other sinners had become followers of Jesus, and they were also guests at the dinner.
Complete Jewish Bible
As Yeshua was in Levi's house eating, many tax-collectors and sinners were sitting with Yeshua and his talmidim, for there were many of them among his followers.
Darby Translation
And it came to pass as he lay at table in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners lay at table with Jesus and his disciples; for they were many, and they followed him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Later that day, Jesus and his followers ate at Levi's house. There were also many tax collectors and others with bad reputations eating with them. (There were many of these people who followed Jesus.)
Geneva Bible (1587)
And it came to passe, as Iesus sate at table in his house, many Publicanes & sinners sate at table also with Iesus, and his disciples: for there were many that followed him.
George Lamsa Translation
And it happened that while he was a guest at his house, a great many publicans and sinners were also guests with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him.
Good News Translation
Later on Jesus was having a meal in Levi's house. A large number of tax collectors and other outcasts was following Jesus, and many of them joined him and his disciples at the table.
Lexham English Bible
And it happened that he was dining in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they were following him.
Literal Translation
And it happened as He reclined in his house, even many tax collectors and sinners reclined with Jesus and His disciples, for they were many. And they followed Him.
American Standard Version
And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
Bible in Basic English
And it came about that he was seated at meat in his house, and a number of tax-farmers and sinners were at table with Jesus and his disciples: for there were a great number of them, and they came after him.
Hebrew Names Version
It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Yeshua and his talmidim, for there were many, and they followed him.
International Standard Version
Later he was having dinner at Levi'shis
">[fn] house. Many tax collectors and sinners were also eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.Matthew 9:10;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And while he reclined in the house, many publicans and sinners reclined with Jeshu and with his disciples; for they were many, and they followed him.
Murdock Translation
And it was so, that as he reclined in his [fn] house, many publicans and sinners reclined with Jesus and with his disciples: for they were many, and they followed him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe, that when Iesus sate at meate in his house, many publicanes and sinners sate also together at meate with Iesus and his disciples: for there were many that folowed him.
English Revised Version
And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
World English Bible
It happened, that he was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he arose and followed him. And as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him.
Weymouth's New Testament
When He was sitting at table in Levi's house, a large number of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners were at table with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many such who habitually followed Him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it was doon, whanne he sat at the mete in his hous, many pupplicans and synful men saten togidere at the mete with Jhesu and hise disciplis; for there weren many that folewiden hym.
Update Bible Version
And it comes to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at table in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him.
New English Translation
As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
New Living Translation
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.)
New Life Bible
Jesus ate in Levi's house. Many men who gather taxes and others who were sinners came and sat down with Jesus and His followers. There were many following Him.
New Revised Standard
And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it cometh to pass, that he is reclining in his house, and many tax-collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they began following him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass as he sat at meat in his house, many Publicans and sinners sat down together with Jesus and his disciples. For they, with Jesus who also followed him. For they were many, who also followed him.
Revised Standard Version
And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And it came to passe as Iesus sate at meate in his housse many publicans and synners sate at meate also with Iesus and his disciples. For there were many that folowed him.
Young's Literal Translation
And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And it came to passe as he sat at the table in his house, there sat many publicans & synners at the table with Iesus and his disciples: For there were many yt folowed him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
at length as Jesus sat at table in Levi's house, several publicans and loose people sat down likewise in company with Jesus, and his disciples: for a good number of them had followed him.
THE MESSAGE
Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: "What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?"
Simplified Cowboy Version
They rode over to Levi's place to have some grub and a lot of Levi's friends were there. These fellows were all tax collectors, outcasts, and outlaws.

Contextual Overview

13 Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 5:27-32">[xr] Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. 14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. 15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and [fn] Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." [fn]

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 9:10, Matthew 9:11, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32, Luke 5:29, Luke 5:30, Luke 6:17, Luke 15:1

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Job 31:33
If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
Psalms 128:2
When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
Ephesians 4:28
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his house,.... In the house of Levi; not in the custom house, or toll booth, for that he left; but in his house in the city of Capernaum, where he had him, and made an entertainment for him, in token of gratitude, for the high favour bestowed on him:

many publicans and sinners sat also together, with Jesus, and his disciples; being invited by Levi, and not objected to by Christ;

:-.

for there were many, and they followed him; either Christ whom they had observed to have called Matthew, and had heard preach by the sea side; or else Matthew; and so the Persic version renders it, "for many followed Matthew". The Ethiopic version reads the words, "and they were many", that is, publicans and sinners, "and the Scribes and Pharisees followed him"; mentioned in the next verse, from whence it seems to be taken; though true it is, that not only a large number of publicans and sinners followed Christ, but also many of the Scribes and Pharisees; yet with a different view from the former, not to get any advantage to themselves, but, if they could, an advantage against Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Sat at meat in the house - The words “at meat” are not in the original. The phrase means “as he reclined at his meal,” or “as he was eating.” This feast was made by Matthew in honor of the Saviour. See Luke 5:29.

Publicans - See the notes at Matthew 5:47.

Sinners - Sinners of abandoned character - of the same character that publicans commonly sustained - fit companions of publicans - great sinners.

There were many - That is, many “disciples.” Their following him, leaving their homes, and going with him from place to place, was proof of their attachment to him. There is no doubt that our Saviour, in the early part of his ministry, was extremely popular. Multitudes of the common people attended him, and gave conclusive evidence that they were his real disciples, and it was only after much opposition from the rich and the great that he ever became unpopular among the people. Perhaps no preacher has ever attracted so universal attention, and produced so decisive effects upon mankind, as did our Lord in his personal ministry.


 
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