Jesus met a man at the tax office and made him a disciple:
“And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.” Luke 5:27
And immediately he began to follow Jesus, he got his colleagues together to hear him— many of them:
“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” Luke 5:29
That’s where he had influence, and he used his influence to bring them to Jesus. It became clear to publicans who were despised by others, that they too had a chance to meet Jesus and irrespective of the protestations of others, Jesus wasn’t going to cast them away (Luke 5:30-31, John 6:35), so guess what? They kept coming:
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” Luke 15:1
Until their chief also found him:
“And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.” Luke 19:2-3, read till verse 10.
But it took one man to tell others that they weren’t too far gone for Jesus.

Bible Reading Plan; Pslams 4 and Deuteronomy 25