Lukas 3:12-13

3:12 Tax collectors ¹  also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 3:13 He told them, “Collect no more ²  than you are required to.” ³ 

[3:12]  ¹ sn The tax collectors would bid to collect taxes for the Roman government and then add a surcharge, which they kept. Since tax collectors worked for Rome, they were viewed as traitors to their own people and were not well liked. Yet even they were moved by John’s call.

[3:13]  ² tn In the Greek text μηδὲν πλέον (mhden pleon, “no more”) is in an emphatic position.

[3:13]  sn By telling the tax collectors to collect no more than…required John was calling for honesty and integrity in a business that was known for greed and dishonesty.

[3:13]  ³ tn Or “than you are ordered to.”