At the time of Jesus, the Roman government had publicans, chief tax collectors who were charged with the responsibility of collecting the taxes in a region. Zaccheus is an example of a chief tax collector in the Bible. In turn, they would employ many different people in the region to actually collect the taxes. There were a multitude of taxes: everyone over a certain age was taxed with the exception of the elderly, there were travel taxes on roads, import taxes on multiple products, food taxes, etc.

All praise to our redeeming Lord,
who joins us by His grace,
and bids us, each to each restored,
together seek His face.

He bids us build each other up;
and, gathered into one,
to our high calling’s glorious hope
we hand in hand go on.

And if our fellowship below
in Jesus be so sweet,
what height of rapture shall we know
when round His throne we meet!

– Charles Wesley, 1747