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

For Yochanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, “Rabbi, what must we do?”

When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been immersed with Yochanan’s immersion.