THE CALL OF LEVI

13 Jesusbs went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teachingbt them. 14 Then, passing by, he saw Levibu the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office,bv and he said to him, “Follow me,”bw and he got up and followedbx him.

15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectorsby and sinnersbz were eatingG with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16 When the scribesca who were PhariseesH,cb saw that he was eatinga with sinnersb and tax collectors,c they asked his disciples, “Why does he eatA with tax collectors and sinners?”