Bible Verses About Publicans: Repent under the preaching of John the Baptist

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?

And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.