A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 19
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 19
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 19
"And he entered and was passing through Jericho." — Luke 19:1 (ASV)
Was passing through (διηρχετο). Imperfect middle. Now Jesus was inside the Roman Jericho with the procession.
"And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich." — Luke 19:2 (ASV)
Chief publican (αρχιτελωνης). The word occurs nowhere else apparently but the meaning is clear from the other words with αρχι- like αρχιερευς (chief priest) αρχιποιμην (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.
"And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature." — Luke 19:3 (ASV)
He sought (εζητε). Imperfect active. He was seeking, conative idea.
Jesus who he was (Ιησουν τις εστιν). Prolepsis, to see who Jesus was. He had heard so much about him. He wanted to see which one of the crowd was Jesus.
For the crowd (απο του οχλου). He was short and the crowd was thick and close.
Stature (τη ηλικια). No doubt of that meaning here and possibly so in 2:52. Elsewhere "age" except Lu 12:25; Matthew 6:27 where it is probably "stature" also.
"And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way." — Luke 19:4 (ASV)
Ran on before (προδραμων εις το εμπροσθεν). Second aorist active participle of προτρεχω (defective verb). "Before" occurs twice (προ- and εις το εμπροσθεν).
Into a sycamore tree (επ συκομορεαν). From συκον, fig, and μορον, mulberry. The fig-mulberry and quite a different tree from the sycamine tree in 17:6, which see. It bore a poor fruit which poor people ate (Amos 7:14). It was a wide open tree with low branches so that Zacchaeus could easily climb into it.
That way (εκεινης). Feminine for οδος (way) is understood. Genitive case with δ in composition (διερχεσθα) or as an adverbial use.
"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." — Luke 19:5 (ASV)
Make haste and come down (σπευσας καταβηθ). Simultaneous aorist active participle (σπευσας) with the second aorist active imperative. "Come down in a hurry."
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