“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11, ESV)
An angel
A Very Unique Author
There is little to no doubt that Luke is the author of this gospel. All early commentators and Christian writers concur that Luke is indeed the author. Why call him “very unique?” In the simplest of terms, he is the only non-Israelite author in the New Testament (and with the exception of a few inserts found in the book of Daniel, perhaps the whole Bible). In addition to not being Jewish, he was a physician (see Colossians 4:14).
Luke was a friend and often a traveling companion of the apostle Paul. However, Luke himself was not an official ‘apostle’ (as defined as a person sent out directly by Jesus), he came to be a follower of Jesus later. Since he was not an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, he had to interview and investigate each of the events reported in this gospel.
Luke is also the author of the book of Acts (full title being “The Acts of the Apostles”), however, much of what he wrote in that book he did witness. The book of Luke was written before the book of Acts, which places it around the same time period as Mark, possibly between 64-68 A.D. He is considered the most eloquent author in the New Testament and apparently when compared with the other authors, has a greater vocabulary. Based on a study by J. Ritchie Smith (1852-1936), Luke wrote 35,239 whole words with a total vocabulary of 2,697 words in the two books. Compared with Paul who wrote 31,457 words with a total vocabulary of 2,446 words (in 13 books) and John writing 27,185 words and a total vocabulary of 1,396 words (in five books).[1]
Sir William Ramsay (1852-1916) in an attempt to disproved the Bible, did significant research investigating Luke and Acts, however, instead of finding evidence to support his presupposition that the Bible was wrong, he found that Luke’s accounts as recorded in both the Gospel and the book of Acts to be trustworthy and true. He placed “the author of Acts among the historians of the first rank.”[2] Ramsay then became a Christian and wrote several extensive and well-researched books on various aspects of the Bible.
Perspective
The book of Luke provides a unique view of Jesus, His humanity. Which includes recording details regarding His suffering and recognition of His perfection. Perhaps due to his training as a doctor, Luke is very precise in describing people and events. With Jesus’ humanity in mind, Luke’s account of Jesus’ genealogy is in reverse order from Matthew’s account, beginning with His parents and traces His bloodline all the way back to the first human, Adam.
Purpose
The gospel of Luke was written in a letter format, addressed to Theophilus. We know very little about this person. His name means “lover of God,” making some believe that it is a title instead of a name. Both the gospel account and the book of Acts are addressed to Theophilus. Many believe that these books were written to aid Paul’s defense during his many trials, which could explain why the gospel of Luke is so precise, eloquent, and interestingly never reports anything negative regarding the Romans.
Investigative Reporting
We read in the first three verses of Luke’s account of the gospel that he investigated every phase of Jesus’ life and was able to interview still-living eyewitnesses. Perhaps again due to his medical training, Luke was meticulous in recording details. As a result, Luke’s account often contains more specific information than any of the other accounts. In addition, the book of Luke offers significantly more behind the scenes and background material. For example, the entire first chapter of Luke is unique, no other book of the Bible contains this information.
St. Luke’s Gospel contains many precious things which are not recorded in the other three Gospels. For example, the histories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the angel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary, and, in general terms, the first two chapters of his Gospel. Only St. Luke records the conversions of Zacchaeus and the penitent thief, the walk to Emmaus, and the famous parables of the Pharisee and the tax collector, the rich man and Lazarus, and the lost son. These are parts of Scripture for which every well-instructed Christian feels peculiarly thankful. And for these we are indebted to the Gospel of St. Luke.[3]
Outline
I. Before Jesus' Ministry (1:1-4:13)
A. Introduction and purpose (1:1-4)
B. The Birth of Jesus (1:5-2:38)
1. Zacharias is told that his wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son named John (1:5–25)
2. Mary learns that she will give birth to Jesus (1:26–38)
3. Mary visits Elizabeth (1:39-45)
4. Mary's song of praise (The Magnificat) (1:46-56)
5. The birth of John the Baptist (1:57-66)
6. Zachariah's prophecy (1:61-80)
7. The birth of Jesus (2:1-7)
8. The announcement to the shepherds (2:8-20)
9. Jesus circumcised (2:21)
10. Infant Jesus presented at the Temple (2:22-38)
C. The Boyhood of Jesus (2:39-52)
1. In Nazareth (2:39-40)
2. In the Temple (2:41-50)
3. Back to Nazareth (2:51-52)
D. Introduction and revealing of Jesus (3:1-4:13)
1. John the Baptist (3:1-20)
2. The baptism of Jesus (3:21-22)
3. The genealogy of Jesus (3:23-38)
4. The temptation of Jesus (4:1-13)
II. Jesus' Ministry Begins (4:14-9:50)
A. In the Galilee Region (4:14-9:50)
1. In Nazareth (4:14-30)
2. In Capernaum (4:31-42)
a. Demon cast out (4:31-37)
b. Many healed (4:38-41)
3. At various synagogues (4:42-44)
4. Around the Sea of Galilee (5:1-6:16)
a. Calling four fishermen to follow (5:1-11)
b. Healing of a leper (5:12-16)
c. Forgiving and healing of a paralytic (5:17-26)
d. Calls a tax collector to follow (5:27-32)
e. Questioned why disciples were not fasting (5:33-39)
f. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (6:1-5)
g. The Twelve disciples (6:6-16)
5. On the plateau (6:17-49)
a. The Beatitudes (6:17-23)
b. The Woes (6:24-26)
c. Love your enemies (6:27-36)
d. Judge not and you will not be judged (6:37-42)
e. Analogy of a fruit tree (6:43-45)
f. Build your house on the Rock (6:46-49)
6. In various cities (7:1-8:25)
a. A centurion’s servant healed (7:1-10)
b. Jesus raises a widow’s son (7:11-17)
c. Jesus speaks about John the Baptist (7:18-35)
d. Jesus forgives a woman (7:36-50)
e. Jesus proclaims the kingdom of God (8:1-3)
f. Parable of the sower (8:4-8)
g. Purpose of teaching in parables (8:9-15)
h. A lamp under a jar (8:16-18)
i. Jesus' mother and brothers (8:19-21)
j. Jesus calms a storm (8:22–25)
7. Traveling around Galilee (8:26–9:50)
a. Jesus heals a man with a demon (8:26–39)
b. Jesus heals a woman (8:40-48)
c. Jesus raises a girl from the dead (8:49–56)
d. Jesus sends out the Twelve (9:1–6)
e. Herod perplexed by Jesus (9:7–9)
f. Jesus feeds the 5,000 (9:10–17)
g. Peter proclaims Jesus as the Christ (9:18-20)
` h. Jesus foretells His death (9:21-22)
i. Take up your cross and follow (9:23-27)
j. The Transfiguration (9:28–36)
k. Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (9:37–43a)
l. Jesus again foretells His death (9:43b–45)
m. Who is the greatest? (9:46-48)
n. Anyone not against us is for us (9:49-50)
III. The Journey to Jerusalem (9:51-19:27)
A. Samaria (9:51-10:37)
1. A Samaritan village rejects Jesus (9:51-56)
2. The cost of following Jesus (9:57-62)
3. Jesus sends out the seventy-two (10:1-24)
4. The parable of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37)
B. Bethany and Judea (10:38-13:35)
1. Mary and Martha (10:38-42)
2. The Lord’s Prayer (11:1-4)
3. Asking God (11:5-13)
4. Accused of being in collusion with Beelzebul (11:14-23)
5. Return of an unclean spirit (11:24-26)
6. Blessed are those that hear the Word of God (11:27-28)
7. The sign of Jonah (11:29-32)
8. Body full of light (11:33-36)
9. Woes to the Pharisees and lawyers (11:37-54)
10. Jesus teaches disciples and a very large crowd (12:1-59)
a. Beware of hypocrisy of the Pharisees (12:1-3)
b. Have no fear (12:4-7)
c. Acknowledging Jesus before others (12:8-12)
d. Parable of the rich foolish man (12:13-21)
e. Don't be anxious about anything (12:22-34)
f. Always be ready (12:35-48)
g. Not peace, but division (12:49-53)
h. Interpreting the signs of the times (12:54-56)
i. Settle with your accuser (12:57-59)
j. Repent or perish (13:1-5)
k. Parable of the barren fig tree (13:6-9)
11. Jesus teaching in a synagogue (13:10-21)
a. Healing of a woman with a disabling spirit (13:10-17)
b. Kingdom of God compared to a mustard seed and leaven (13:18-21)
c. Enter through the narrow door (13:22-30)
12. Jesus laments over Jerusalem (13:31–35)
C. Jordan River Valley (Perea) (14:1-19:27)
1. Dining with a Pharisee (14:1-24)
a. Healing on the Sabbath (14:1-6)
b. Parable of the wedding feast (14:7-11)
c. Parable of the great banquet (14:12-24)
2. Teaching the multitudes (14:25-18:34)
a. The cost of discipleship (14:25-35)
b. Parable of the lost sheep (15:1-7)
c. Parable of the lost coin (15:8-10)
d. Parable of the prodigal son (15:11-32)
e. Parable of the dishonest steward (16:1-13)
f. The law and the kingdom of God (16:14-17)
g. Divorce and remarriage (16:18)
h. The rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31)
i. Temptations to sin and forgiveness (17:1-4)
j. Faith like a mustard seed (17:5-10)
k. Ten lepers healed only one gives thanks (17:11-19)
l. Coming of the kingdom (17:20-37)
m. Parable of the persistent widow (18:1-8)
n. Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9-14)
o. Let the children come (18:15-17)
p. A rich ruler asks Jesus what must he do (18:18-30)
q. Jesus again foretells His suffering, death and resurrection (18:31-34)
r. Jesus heals a blind beggar (18:35-43)
D. Jericho (18:35-19:10)
1. Jesus calls Zacchaeus (19:1-10)
2. Parable of the ten minas (19:11-27)
IV. Around the City of Jerusalem (Passion Week) (19:28-23:56)
A. The triumphal entry (19:28-40)
B. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (19:41-44)
C. Jesus cleanses the Temple (19:45-48)
D. Jewish rulers challenge Jesus (20:1-8)
E. Parable of the wicked tenants (20:9-18)
F. Pharisees ask about paying taxes (20:19-26)
G. Sadducees ask about the resurrection (20:27-40)
H. Jesus asks whose Son is is the Christ? (20:41-44)
I. Jesus warns about the scribes (20:45-47)
J. A lesson from a widow's offering (21:1-4)
K. Jesus foretells several events (Olivet Discourse) (21:5-38)
1. Destruction of the Temple (21:5-9)
2. Wars and persecution (21:10-19)
3. Destruction of Jerusalem (21:20-24)
4. The Second Coming (21:25-28)
5. The lesson of the fig tree (21:29-33)
6. Watch out (21:34-38)
L. The plot to kill Jesus (22:1-2)
M. Judas betrays Jesus (22:3-6)
N. Upper Room (22:7-38)
1. Preparation for Passover (22:7-13)
2. Passover seder, the Lord’s supper and betrayal announced (22:14-23)
3. Disciples quarrel over which one is greater (22:24-30)
4. Peter’s denial foretold (22:31-34)
5. Scripture must be fulfilled in Jesus (22:35-38)
O. Mount of Olives (Gethsemane) (22:39-53)
1. Jesus prays and agonizes in the garden (22:39-46)
2. Jesus is arrested (22:47-53)
P. Trials
1. Peter’s denial (22:54-62)
2. Jesus mocked and beaten (22:63-65)
3. The trial before the Sanhedrin (22:66-71)
4. The trial before Pilate (23:1-25)
a. The accusations (23:1-5)
b. Before Herod (23:6-12)
c. Pilate’s verdict (23:13-25)
Q. Jesus crucified (23:26-43)
R. Jesus dies (23:44-49)
S. Jesus is buried (23:50-56)
T. Jesus rises from the dead (24:1-12)
U. On the road to Emmaus (24:13-35)
V. Jesus appears to His disciples (24:36-49)
W. Jesus ascends into heaven (24:50-53)
⇐Previous Chapter (Introduction/Index) Next Chapter⇒
[1] Cadbury, H.J. (1920). The Style and Literary Method of Luke. (p. 1) Cambridge. Harvard University Press. London, Humphrey Milford.
Smith, J.R. (1891) The vocabulary of the New Testament. The Presbyterian and Reformed Review, 2(8), 647-658. https://commons.ptsem.edu/id/presbyterianrefo2818warf-dmd007
[2] Ramsay, W. M. (1907). St. Paul the traveller and the Roman citizen (pp. 3–4). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[3] Ryle, J. C. (1997). Luke (Lk 1:1–4). Crossway Books.