ZACCHAEUS. - Head of the publicans (ἀρχιτεχνῶν), i.e., the tax collectors in the border city of Jericho at the time of Christ. Although of Jewish stock, he was despised by his fellow countrymen for his odious office, serving the Romans.
Short in stature, he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus as He passed through Jericho. Jesus noticed him and invited him to come down, intending to lodge at his house. Despite the murmuring of the crowd, Jesus accepted the hospitality of Z., who declared that he would give half of his goods to the poor and, in the event he had defrauded anyone, would restore fourfold (Lk. 19:1-10), exceeding in generosity what the Mosaic law required (Lev. 6:6; Num. 5:7).
It is not possible to identify Z. with Zakkaj, father of the celebrated rabbi JÓHÁNÁN (v.); however, they may have belonged to the same family. According to the Clementine Homilies (3:63-72; PG 2, 152-57) and the Clementine Recognitions (3:65-74; ibid. 1, 1310, 1314), Z. would have followed the Apostle St. Peter, by whom he was later constituted bishop at Caesarea. Some (cited by Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, IV, 6; ibid. 8, 1248) have identified Z. with the publican Matthew the Apostle. According to a legendary tradition of Quercy, Z. would have traveled, VERONICA (v.), to Gaul and preached, under the name of Amator, in the place called Rocamadour (Lot), which is still a site of pilgrimage. His feast is celebrated on the 20th-21st, even among the Copts.