Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho — and therefore both wealthy and despised. His brief story (Luke 19:1–10) is one of the Gospel's most vivid pictures of repentance and grace.

Up a sycamore tree

Being "little of stature," Zacchaeus could not see Jesus over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree. Jesus stopped beneath it, looked up, and said, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house." Zacchaeus "received him joyfully" — to the muttering of the crowd that Jesus was "gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner" (Luke 19:5–7).

Salvation come to his house

Transformed by the encounter, Zacchaeus stood and pledged, "the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Jesus declared, "This day is salvation come to this house... For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:8–10).