Luke 5:29
New International Version
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

New Living Translation
Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

English Standard Version
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

Berean Literal Bible
And Levi made a great banquet for Him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax collectors and others, who were reclining with them.

King James Bible
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

New King James Version
Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.

New American Standard Bible
And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

NASB 1995
And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

NASB 1977
And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

Amplified Bible
Levi (Matthew) gave a great banquet for Him at his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
In his home Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus. Many tax collectors and other guests were also there.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Levi held a large reception at his home for Jesus. A huge crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Good News Translation
Then Levi had a big feast in his house for Jesus, and among the guests was a large number of tax collectors and other people.

International Standard Version
Later, Levi gave a large banquet at his home for Jesus. A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

NET Bible
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.

New Heart English Bible
Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and there was a great company of publicans, and of others that sat down with them.

Weymouth New Testament
Levi also gave a great entertainment at his house in honour of Jesus, and there was a large party of tax-gatherers and others at table with them.

World English Bible
Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Levi made a great entertainment to Him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax collectors and others who were with them reclining,

Berean Literal Bible
And Levi made a great banquet for Him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax collectors and others, who were reclining with them.

Young's Literal Translation
And Levi made a great entertainment to him in his house, and there was a great multitude of tax-gatherers and others who were with them reclining (at meat),

Smith's Literal Translation
And Levi made a great entertainment for him in his house: and there was a great crowd of publicans and others who were sitting down with them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house; and there was a great company of publicans, and of others, that were at table with them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Levi made a great feast for him in his own house. And there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others, who were sitting at table with them.

New American Bible
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Levi gave him a great reception in his house; and there was a large gathering of publicans and others, who were guests with them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Levi made a great reception for him in his house and there was a great crowd of Tax Gatherers and of others who were reclining at dinner with them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Levi made him a great feast at his own house; and there was a great multitude of publicans and others, who reclined at table with them.

Godbey New Testament
And Levi made a great feast for Him in his own house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and others who were sitting along with Him.

Haweis New Testament
And Levi made him a great entertainment at his house and there was a great number of publicans and others, sitting at table with them.

Mace New Testament
Levi having prepared a handsom entertainment in his own house for him, a great number of publicans, and others, were likewise at table.

Weymouth New Testament
Levi also gave a great entertainment at his house in honour of Jesus, and there was a large party of tax-gatherers and others at table with them.

Worrell New Testament
And Levi made a great reception for Him in his house; and there was a great multitude of tax-collectors and of others who were reclining at table with them.

Worsley New Testament
And Levi made Him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great number of publicans, and others at table with them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Calling of Levi
28and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him. 29Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”…

Cross References
Matthew 9:10
Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples.

Mark 2:15
While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

Matthew 11:19
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”

Luke 15:1-2
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. / So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 7:34
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Matthew 22:10
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Luke 19:5-7
When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” / So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. / And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!”

Acts 10:28
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. / I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. / But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Romans 14:3
The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.

Galatians 2:12
For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Genesis 18:1-8
Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. / And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. / “My lord,” said Abraham, “if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass your servant by. ...

Genesis 19:1-3
Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown, / and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” / But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.


Treasury of Scripture

And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

made.

John 12:2
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

and there.

Matthew 9:10
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Mark 2:15
And 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.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: …

Jump to Previous
Banquet Big Collectors Company Crowd Eating Entertainment Feast Followed Great Held House Jesus Levi Meat Multitude Others Publicans Reception Reclining Rose Sat Seated Sitting Table Tax Tax-Farmers Tax-Gatherers
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Banquet Big Collectors Company Crowd Eating Entertainment Feast Followed Great Held House Jesus Levi Meat Multitude Others Publicans Reception Reclining Rose Sat Seated Sitting Table Tax Tax-Farmers Tax-Gatherers
Luke 5
1. Jesus teaches the people out of Peter's ship;
4. shows how he will make them fishers of men;
12. cleanses the leper;
16. prays in the desert;
17. heals a paralytic;
27. calls Matthew the tax collector;
29. eats with sinners, as being the physician of souls;
33. foretells the fasting and afflictions of the apostles after his ascension;
36. and illustrates the matter by the parable of patches.














Then Levi
The name "Levi" is significant, as it connects to the Levitical priesthood, suggesting a heritage of religious service. Levi, also known as Matthew, was a tax collector, a profession despised by the Jews for its association with Roman oppression and corruption. His calling by Jesus signifies the transformative power of Christ's invitation, breaking societal barriers and extending grace to the marginalized.

hosted a great banquet
The act of hosting a banquet is a gesture of hospitality and celebration. In the cultural context of the time, sharing a meal was a sign of fellowship and acceptance. Levi's decision to host a "great banquet" indicates his joy and gratitude for his new life in Christ. It also reflects the abundance of God's grace, as Levi uses his resources to honor Jesus and share this transformative experience with others.

for Jesus
This phrase underscores the centrality of Christ in the event. Levi's banquet is not merely a social gathering but an act of worship and acknowledgment of Jesus' authority and grace. It highlights the personal relationship between Levi and Jesus, emphasizing that true transformation leads to actions that honor and glorify Christ.

at his house
The setting of the banquet in Levi's house is significant. It represents a personal and intimate space, suggesting that the transformation Jesus brings affects every aspect of one's life, including the home. It also symbolizes the inclusivity of the Gospel, as Jesus enters the homes and lives of those considered outcasts by society.

and a large crowd of tax collectors and others
The presence of "a large crowd of tax collectors and others" illustrates the reach of Jesus' ministry. Tax collectors were often ostracized, yet here they are drawn to Jesus, indicating His appeal to those on the fringes of society. The "others" likely include various individuals who, like Levi, are seeking hope and redemption. This gathering foreshadows the diverse community that the Church would become, united by faith in Christ.

were eating with them
The act of eating together is a powerful symbol of acceptance and community. In the Jewish culture, sharing a meal signified a bond of peace and fellowship. Jesus' willingness to eat with tax collectors and sinners demonstrates His mission to seek and save the lost, breaking down social and religious barriers. It is a profound illustration of the Kingdom of God, where all are invited to the table of grace.

(29) A great feast.--The fact stated agrees with St. Mark, but the precise phrase is peculiar to St. Luke. The noun means literally a reception, and agrees, curiously enough, with the most modern use of that word.

Of publicans and of others.--It is, perhaps, characteristic of St. Luke as a Gentile that he will not use the word "sinners" as St. Matthew and St. Mark appear to have used it, as popularly including heathen as such, and substitutes the vaguer word "others."

Verse 29. - And Levi made him a great feast in his own house. There is no doubt that this Levi was the same person as Matthew the publican (subsequently the evangelist), whose calling under precisely similar circumstances is related in the First Gospel (Matthew 10; and see Mark 2.). The name Matthew, "gift of God," was probably given to him, as that of Peter (or Cephas, "a rock") was bestowed on Simon, after his association with Jesus. The words used, "a great feast," a great company, plainly indicate that Levi (Matthew)was a person of consideration and position. And there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. The great company was owing to the fact that the publicans and their friends, moved by the kindness and friendship of the new Teacher, assembled at the feast in numbers out of respect to him; or, more likely, the assemblage was owing to the effort of Levi (Matthew) to bring into friendly relations his associates and friends and the new Master, for whose sake he had given up everything.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Levi
Λευὶς (Leuis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3018: (Hebrew), Levi, son of Alphaeus, the publican. A form of Leui; Lewis, a Christian.

hosted
ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

a great
μεγάλην (megalēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

banquet
δοχὴν (dochēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1403: A feast, banquet, reception. From dechomai; a reception, i.e. Convivial entertainment.

for [Jesus]
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

at
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

house.
οἰκίᾳ (oikia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3614: From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family.

A large
πολὺς (polys)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

crowd
ὄχλος (ochlos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

of tax collectors
τελωνῶν (telōnōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5057: A publican, collector of taxes. From telos and oneomai; a tax-farmer, i.e. Collector of public revenue.

was there,
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

along with
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

others
ἄλλων (allōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 243: Other, another (of more than two), different. A primary word; 'else, ' i.e. Different.

who
οἳ (hoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

were
ἦσαν (ēsan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

eating
κατακείμενοι (katakeimenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2621: From kata and keimai; to lie down, i.e. be sick; specially, to recline at a meal.

with
μετ’ (met’)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

them.
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 5:29 Levi made a great feast for him (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 5:28
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