Discovery BoxLuke 5:29-30 
Context5:29 Then 1 Levi gave a great banquet 2 in his house for Jesus, 3 and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting 4 at the table with them. 5:30 But 5 the Pharisees 6 and their experts in the law 7 complained 8 to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 9
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 sn A great banquet refers to an elaborate meal. Many of the events in Luke take place in the context of meal fellowship: 7:36-50; 9:12-17; 10:38-42; 11:37-54; 14:1-24; 22:7-38; 24:29-32, 41-43.
3 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Grk “reclining.” This term reflects the normal practice in 1st century Jewish culture of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position. Since it is foreign to most modern readers, the translation “sitting” has been substituted.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the implied contrast present in this context.
6 sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.
7 tn Or “and their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.
8 tn Or “grumbled”; a term often used in the OT for inappropriate grumbling: Exod 15:24; 16:7-8; Num 14:2, 26-35; 16:11.
9 sn The issue here is inappropriate associations (eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners) and the accusation comes not against Jesus, but his disciples.
