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Vine's Expository Dictionary
PUBLICAN
telones NT:5057 primarily denoted "a farmer of the tax" (from telos, "toll,
custom, tax"), then, as in the NT, a subsequent subordinate of such, who
collected taxes in some district, "a tax gatherer"; such were naturally hated intensely
by the people; they are classed with "sinners," Matt 9:10,11; 11:9; Mark
2:15,16; Luke 5:30; 7:34; 15:1; with harlots, Matt 21:31,32; with "the Gentile,"
Matt 18:17; some mss. have it in Matt 5:47, the best have ethnikoi, "Gentiles."
See also Matt 5:46; 10:3; Luke 3:12; 5:27,29; 7:29; 18:10,11,13.
Note: For architelones, "a chief publican," see CHIEF, B, No. 4.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (c)1985,
Thomas Nelson Publishers)