1Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
2And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.
3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.
Zacchaeus and the King
Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. Luke 19:1 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus walks into Jericho, just passing through on His way to Jerusalem. But He's about to stop for someone no one expected.
Jericho was a rich, busy city — a perfect setting for what happens next. Jesus is on His way to something much bigger, but He always has time for one more person.
Luke gives a simple setup that leads to one of the most beloved stories in the Gospels.
It seems like just another city on the road to Jerusalem. But for one man hiding in the crowd, this is the day everything changes.
Jesus enters Jericho and is passing through (diērcheto), indicating continued movement toward Jerusalem. This transitional verse sets the geographical and narrative stage for the Zacchaeus encounter.
Jericho was a wealthy border city with significant tax revenue due to its location on major trade routes. Luke's travelogue toward Jerusalem continues its pattern of transformative encounters.
Luke narrates Jesus' arrival in Jericho as He continues His journey toward Jerusalem.
Jesus enters one of the wealthiest cities in Palestine. He's just passing through on His way to Jerusalem, but someone in this city is about to have a life-changing encounter.
1Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
2And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.
3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.
Read all of Luke 19 — A short tax collector climbs a tree and has his life turned upside down. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem, and the stones themselves are ready to shout.
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