Mark 2:15
What does Mark 2:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 2:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 2:15 means
Jesus was at a dinner party in Levi's house, where many tax collectors and other known "sinners" were also gathered, eating with Jesus and His disciples. The text notes that there were many such individuals who followed Him, indicating His broad appeal to those outside the religious mainstream. This willingness to associate with outcasts further illustrates Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost, challenging the strict social and religious boundaries of the time.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it came about that he was seated at meat in his house, and a number of tax-farmers and sinners were at table with Jesus and his disciples: for there were a great number of them, and they came after him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it came to pass, in his reclining (at meat) in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners were reclining (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass as he sat at meat in his house, many Publicans and sinners sat down together with Jesus and his disciples. For they were many, who also followed him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass as he lay at table in his house, that many tax-gatherers and sinners lay at table with Jesus and his disciples; for they were many, and they followed him.
Context
This verse immediately follows Levi's call and his decision to follow Jesus, establishing the context for Jesus' controversial table fellowship. The dinner party in Levi's house, filled with tax collectors and "sinners," sets the stage for the religious leaders' criticism. This gathering underscores Jesus' mission to the marginalized and directly prompts the Pharisee's disciples to question Jesus' practices in the following verses.
v.14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
v.15This passage
v.16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 9:10
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.
- Matthew 21:31
Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 6:17
and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
- Luke 15:1
Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.
- Luke 5:29
And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.
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