As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9
The image conveys a sense of dynamic action and accountability.
A man is seated at a table, providing legal or bureaucratic direction. He is a tax-collector sitting amongst many records.
A Roman soldier standing guard near him in a gold breastplate and bright red skirt’s glare draws attention to his standoffish demeanor. He faces a man in white, standing in front of the tax-collector.
To the right, a group of Roman soldiers stand in the golden light of the setting sun.
Overall the image suggests a time of occupation resonating with the abundance of fear.