Mark 2:13-17 - Levi Called To Follow Jesus

¹³ Then he went out again by the seaside, and all the crowd came to him and he taught them. ¹⁴ As he passed along he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax-office; he said to him, "Follow me," and he rose and followed him.

¹⁵ Now Levi was at table in his own house, and he had many taxgatherers and sinners as guests along with Jesus and his disciples ??for there were many of them among his followers. ¹⁶ So when some scribes of the Pharisees saw he was eating with sinners and taxgatherers they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat and drink with taxgatherers and sinners?"

¹⁷ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "Those who are strong have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill: I have not come to call just men but sinners."

²⁷ On going outside after this he noticed a taxgatherer called Levi sitting at the tax-office and said to him, "Follow me"; ²⁸ he rose, left everything and followed him.

²⁹ Levi held a great banquet for him in his house; there was a large company present of taxgatherers and others who were guests along with them. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with taxgatherers and sinners?"

³¹ Jesus replied to them, "Healthy people have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill: ³² I have not come to call just men but sinners to repentance."