Luke 1:1-17
Lesson 100
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Gospel According to St. Luke"
"Christ the Man."
Authorship:
The Gospel According to St. Luke was written by Luke through the Holy Spirit. Luke was Greek and the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. Described as a "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), Luke worked closely with Paul (2 Timothy 4:11) and traveled with him on at least one of the missionary journeys (see map below). The devoted Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome, and they were shipwrecked together on the island of Melita. After three months, they caught another ship to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:16) where Paul was held under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come straight from eyewitnesses who did (Luke 1:1-2). Luke includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, so he likely knew her well. Written around A.D. 61, Luke followed up this work by writing "The Acts of the Apostles" a short time later. Little more is known about Luke, he is mentioned only three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Purpose and Theme:
The Gospel According to St. Luke is the longest and most comprehensive of the four Gospels. Like Matthew and Mark, it emphasizes Jesus' Galilean ministry. Luke himself tells us that the purpose of his Gospel is to present a truthful record of Jesus' life and teachings and to give his readers a deeper understanding of their religion (1:1-4; Acts 1:1). As you read, notice how Luke repeatedly explains Jewish customs to the reader, proof that he wrote for a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience. Luke shows us that Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish and Gentile Messiah. He depicts Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah who was rejected by Israel and then offered to the world. Christ's compassion towards Gentiles and sinners is a constant theme throughout this Gospel, and more than any other book, Luke shows Jesus' concern for women. Plus, being a doctor, Luke makes many references to diseases and their cures. Luke also gives a broad view of the beginnings of Christianity. Forgiveness and the role of the Holy Spirit are prominent features throughout. But perhaps Luke's central theme is best summed up in verse 19:10; "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Within the pages of Luke, you will find seventeen parables and seven miracles exclusive to the Gospel of Luke. Much of the writings in verses 9:51-18:35 don't appear anywhere else in the Gospels (see below). Of the 1,151 verses in Luke, 607 have commonality with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark or both, leaving 544 unique to Luke.
The Gospel According to St. Luke was written by Luke through the Holy Spirit. Luke was Greek and the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. Described as a "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), Luke worked closely with Paul (2 Timothy 4:11) and traveled with him on at least one of the missionary journeys (see map below). The devoted Luke also accompanied Paul when he was taken in chains to stand trial in Rome, and they were shipwrecked together on the island of Melita. After three months, they caught another ship to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:16) where Paul was held under house arrest for two years (Acts 28:30-31). Luke never met Jesus, but much of his writings come straight from eyewitnesses who did (Luke 1:1-2). Luke includes several stories from the Virgin Mary's life, so he likely knew her well. Written around A.D. 61, Luke followed up this work by writing "The Acts of the Apostles" a short time later. Little more is known about Luke, he is mentioned only three times in the Bible (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24), yet between his two books he wrote a quarter of the New Testament, making him a major contributor to Christianity and worthy of study.
Purpose and Theme:
The Gospel According to St. Luke is the longest and most comprehensive of the four Gospels. Like Matthew and Mark, it emphasizes Jesus' Galilean ministry. Luke himself tells us that the purpose of his Gospel is to present a truthful record of Jesus' life and teachings and to give his readers a deeper understanding of their religion (1:1-4; Acts 1:1). As you read, notice how Luke repeatedly explains Jewish customs to the reader, proof that he wrote for a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience. Luke shows us that Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish and Gentile Messiah. He depicts Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah who was rejected by Israel and then offered to the world. Christ's compassion towards Gentiles and sinners is a constant theme throughout this Gospel, and more than any other book, Luke shows Jesus' concern for women. Plus, being a doctor, Luke makes many references to diseases and their cures. Luke also gives a broad view of the beginnings of Christianity. Forgiveness and the role of the Holy Spirit are prominent features throughout. But perhaps Luke's central theme is best summed up in verse 19:10; "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Within the pages of Luke, you will find seventeen parables and seven miracles exclusive to the Gospel of Luke. Much of the writings in verses 9:51-18:35 don't appear anywhere else in the Gospels (see below). Of the 1,151 verses in Luke, 607 have commonality with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark or both, leaving 544 unique to Luke.
Luke is broken down into three main segments:
1) Verses 1:1- 4:13 - Opening greetings; The births of John and Jesus; John foretells Jesus' coming; Mary's song of praise (1:46-55); Zechariah's song of praise (1:67-79); Jesus is born (2:1-20); Jesus is baptized and tempted.
2) Verses 4:14- 19:27 - Jesus' ministry begins; Calling the disciples; The teachings, parables, and miracles.
3) Verses 19:28- 24:53 - Passion week; Jesus enters Jerusalem; The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
1) Verses 1:1- 4:13 - Opening greetings; The births of John and Jesus; John foretells Jesus' coming; Mary's song of praise (1:46-55); Zechariah's song of praise (1:67-79); Jesus is born (2:1-20); Jesus is baptized and tempted.
2) Verses 4:14- 19:27 - Jesus' ministry begins; Calling the disciples; The teachings, parables, and miracles.
3) Verses 19:28- 24:53 - Passion week; Jesus enters Jerusalem; The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
Paul's First and Second missionary journeys.
Study Tip:
As you read, think of ways to apply each biblical teaching into your life.
As you read, think of ways to apply each biblical teaching into your life.
Who was -
Theophilus -
The name Theophilus means, "one who loves God." Luke dedicated this Gospel and the "Acts of the Apostles" to Theophilus (Acts 1:1). Not much is known about him other than he was a Christian and since Luke addresses him as "most excellent," he probably held a high government position. The Swiss Theologian Federic Louis Godet (Oct. 25, 1812- Oct. 29, 1900) was a bit more specific. He believed that Theophilus was "a great lord residing in the capital of Syria." The Clementine Recognitions seem to confirm this. Written around AD 150, it tells of a man named Theophilus, "who was at the head of all the men in power at the city (of Antioch), consecrated, under the name of a church, the great basilica (the palace) in which he resided." Is this the same man Luke wrote to? Some Bible scholars do not believe Theophilus was a real person at all. They submit that he was simply the personification of Christian love.
Herod -
King Herod the Great reigned over Judea for almost 35 years as a bloodthirsty tyrant. He murdered, among others, his wife Mariamne, his mother-in-law Alexandra, two brothers-in-law Costobarus and Alexander, dozens of innocent children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18) and three of his sons (two by strangulation). The Roman emperor Augustus Caesar said, "It is better to be Herod's hog than to be his son!" After being placed on the Judean throne by Roman Emperor Mark Antony, he built numerous cities and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Babylonians. Many of the ancient ruins tourists visit in Israel today date back to Herod's era. Part Jew and part Gentile, he lived in constant fear of being overthrown. He called himself "the King of the Jews," but most Jews hated him and mockingly called him "a half-Jew." From his deathbed, Herod gave orders for all prominent Jewish men to be rounded up and killed upon his death so there would be mourning at his passing. His instructions were ignored.
Zacharias -
A Jewish priest married to the virgin Mary's cousin Elisabeth, and father to John the Baptist. He was the first to learn that the Messiah would soon arrive (Luke 1:17).
Aaron -
The son of Amram the Levite and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), Moses' older brother, his spokesman (Exodus 4:16; 7:2), and second in command as well as the first Jewish High Priest. Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee Egypt. Forty years later, God sent Aaron to find Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 4:27) and to help him lead the Israelites out of
Egyptian slavery. When Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments from God, Aaron, two of his four sons, and seventy elders accompanied him partway up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1-2). While he waited for Moses to return, Aaron made a pagan idol, the golden calf (Exodus 32:2-5) for people to worship. Forgiven, God gave Aaron the power to end a plague which killed thousands (Numbers 16:1-50). As the first High Priest, Aaron was a foreshadowing of Christ (Exodus 28:1; 29:7) and helped prepare the Jews for the coming Messiah. But like Moses, Aaron died before reaching the promised land (Numbers 20:12; 20:23-29). After his death at the age of 123, Aarons rod was preserved as a memorial (Hebrews 9:2-6) and kept in the Ark. The Old Testament calls for all Jewish priests to be descendants of Aaron (Exodus 39:41; Leviticus 1:5; 1:7-8; 1:11). Aaron is also mentioned in the Koran and honored by Moslems.
Elisabeth -
A descendant of Aaron, Elisabeth was deeply religious (Luke 1:6), the mother of John the Baptist, wife of Zacharias, and a cousin to the Virgin Mary (1:36).
John -
John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish priest Zacharias and mother Elizabeth (Luke 1:8-13; 3:2). Elizabeth was the Virgin Mary's cousin (Luke 1:34-36), thus making John and Jesus distant cousins. John was a prophet of the Old Covenant sent by God to preach repentance (Matthew 3:2), to bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments, and to prepare "the way" for the Messiah's arrival (Luke 1:17), a mission so important it is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-5; Luke 3:4-11; John 1:19-27). Jesus said there was never a person born greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). John was the first prophet in four hundred years and a lifetime Nazarite. To honor God, Nazarite Jews made religious offerings, took periodic vows not to drink alcohol, cut their hair, and to avoid contact with the dead. These vows lasted anywhere from thirty to one hundred days. Only three men in the Bible were under lifetime Nazarite vows, Samson (Judges 13:2-7), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11) and John (Luke 1:15). All three were set aside by God to perform extraordinary missions. John's purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6. He was eventually beheaded by King Herod Antipas for denouncing Herod's marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias, and other "evils" (Luke 3:19-20). To learn more about Nazarite vows, read Numbers 6:1-21.
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elijah came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elijah preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. As Jews turned away from God, Elijah called on Israel to repent of its sins. Followers of the pagan God Baal and his wife Ashtoreth sacrificed infants and placed their remains in jars. Elias brought these murderers to justice (I Kings 18:40). He was given the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11) and stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). Over four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). John the Baptist was compared to Elias (see Today's Question below). To learn more about Elias, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and 2 Kings 1-2.
Theophilus -
The name Theophilus means, "one who loves God." Luke dedicated this Gospel and the "Acts of the Apostles" to Theophilus (Acts 1:1). Not much is known about him other than he was a Christian and since Luke addresses him as "most excellent," he probably held a high government position. The Swiss Theologian Federic Louis Godet (Oct. 25, 1812- Oct. 29, 1900) was a bit more specific. He believed that Theophilus was "a great lord residing in the capital of Syria." The Clementine Recognitions seem to confirm this. Written around AD 150, it tells of a man named Theophilus, "who was at the head of all the men in power at the city (of Antioch), consecrated, under the name of a church, the great basilica (the palace) in which he resided." Is this the same man Luke wrote to? Some Bible scholars do not believe Theophilus was a real person at all. They submit that he was simply the personification of Christian love.
Herod -
King Herod the Great reigned over Judea for almost 35 years as a bloodthirsty tyrant. He murdered, among others, his wife Mariamne, his mother-in-law Alexandra, two brothers-in-law Costobarus and Alexander, dozens of innocent children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18) and three of his sons (two by strangulation). The Roman emperor Augustus Caesar said, "It is better to be Herod's hog than to be his son!" After being placed on the Judean throne by Roman Emperor Mark Antony, he built numerous cities and rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed by the Babylonians. Many of the ancient ruins tourists visit in Israel today date back to Herod's era. Part Jew and part Gentile, he lived in constant fear of being overthrown. He called himself "the King of the Jews," but most Jews hated him and mockingly called him "a half-Jew." From his deathbed, Herod gave orders for all prominent Jewish men to be rounded up and killed upon his death so there would be mourning at his passing. His instructions were ignored.
Zacharias -
A Jewish priest married to the virgin Mary's cousin Elisabeth, and father to John the Baptist. He was the first to learn that the Messiah would soon arrive (Luke 1:17).
Aaron -
The son of Amram the Levite and Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), Moses' older brother, his spokesman (Exodus 4:16; 7:2), and second in command as well as the first Jewish High Priest. Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee Egypt. Forty years later, God sent Aaron to find Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 4:27) and to help him lead the Israelites out of
Egyptian slavery. When Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments from God, Aaron, two of his four sons, and seventy elders accompanied him partway up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:1-2). While he waited for Moses to return, Aaron made a pagan idol, the golden calf (Exodus 32:2-5) for people to worship. Forgiven, God gave Aaron the power to end a plague which killed thousands (Numbers 16:1-50). As the first High Priest, Aaron was a foreshadowing of Christ (Exodus 28:1; 29:7) and helped prepare the Jews for the coming Messiah. But like Moses, Aaron died before reaching the promised land (Numbers 20:12; 20:23-29). After his death at the age of 123, Aarons rod was preserved as a memorial (Hebrews 9:2-6) and kept in the Ark. The Old Testament calls for all Jewish priests to be descendants of Aaron (Exodus 39:41; Leviticus 1:5; 1:7-8; 1:11). Aaron is also mentioned in the Koran and honored by Moslems.
Elisabeth -
A descendant of Aaron, Elisabeth was deeply religious (Luke 1:6), the mother of John the Baptist, wife of Zacharias, and a cousin to the Virgin Mary (1:36).
John -
John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish priest Zacharias and mother Elizabeth (Luke 1:8-13; 3:2). Elizabeth was the Virgin Mary's cousin (Luke 1:34-36), thus making John and Jesus distant cousins. John was a prophet of the Old Covenant sent by God to preach repentance (Matthew 3:2), to bridge the gap between the Old and New Testaments, and to prepare "the way" for the Messiah's arrival (Luke 1:17), a mission so important it is mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 3:1-17; Mark 1:2-5; Luke 3:4-11; John 1:19-27). Jesus said there was never a person born greater than John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28). John was the first prophet in four hundred years and a lifetime Nazarite. To honor God, Nazarite Jews made religious offerings, took periodic vows not to drink alcohol, cut their hair, and to avoid contact with the dead. These vows lasted anywhere from thirty to one hundred days. Only three men in the Bible were under lifetime Nazarite vows, Samson (Judges 13:2-7), Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11) and John (Luke 1:15). All three were set aside by God to perform extraordinary missions. John's purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6. He was eventually beheaded by King Herod Antipas for denouncing Herod's marriage to his niece and brothers ex-wife, Herodias, and other "evils" (Luke 3:19-20). To learn more about Nazarite vows, read Numbers 6:1-21.
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elijah came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elijah preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. As Jews turned away from God, Elijah called on Israel to repent of its sins. Followers of the pagan God Baal and his wife Ashtoreth sacrificed infants and placed their remains in jars. Elias brought these murderers to justice (I Kings 18:40). He was given the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11) and stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). Over four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). John the Baptist was compared to Elias (see Today's Question below). To learn more about Elias, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and 2 Kings 1-2.
