Zacchaeus
maleNew TestamentMeaning: “Pure; innocent”
The short, wealthy chief tax collector of Jericho who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus and, transformed by His visit, repaid all he had defrauded fourfold.
Biography
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).
Life Timeline
Welcomes Jesus and repays fourfold; salvation comes to his house
Themes & lessons from Zacchaeus
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Zacchaeus appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
3 verses in 1 bookLuke3 verses
Luke 19:2
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Luke 19:5
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luke 19:8
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, 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.
Frequently asked about Zacchaeus
Who was Zacchaeus in the Bible?
The short, wealthy chief tax collector of Jericho who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus and, transformed by His visit, repaid all he had defrauded fourfold.
What does the name Zacchaeus mean?
The name Zacchaeus means “Pure; innocent”.
What did Zacchaeus do in the Bible?
Zacchaeus served as chief tax collector.
Where does Zacchaeus appear in the Bible?
Zacchaeus is mentioned 3 times across 1 book: Luke.
What can we learn from Zacchaeus?
The story of Zacchaeus touches on themes of publicans, zacchaeus, poor, poor, the — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Zacchaeus's life.
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