An Introduction and Overview of Luke

What We Find in the Book -Introductory remarks (1:1-4) -Time preceding Christ’s public ministry (1:5-2:52) -His Galilean ministry (3:1-9:50) -His last journeys to Jerusalem (9:51- 18:14) -Events relating His death, burial, resurrection and ascension (18:15-24:53)

What We Find About Luke Himself -He is mentioned by name only three times in the New Testament

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:14 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. II Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. II Timothy 4:11 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Philemon 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Philemon 24

What We Find About Luke Himself -He is mentioned by name only three times in the New Testament -Since he is the writer of Acts, the “we” sections of that book include him -In Troas, he joined Paul as a traveling companion and co- laborer, as recorded in Acts 16

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Acts 16:10

What We Find About Luke Himself -From what is written to the Colossians we can determine that Luke was a Gentile

Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring From among “the circumcision”

fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:10-14 fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:10-14

What We Find About Luke Himself -From what is written to the Colossians we can determine that Luke was a Gentile -Luke was with Paul when he arrived in Jerusalem

And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:15

What We Find About Luke Himself -From what is written to the Colossians we can determine that Luke was a Gentile -Luke was with Paul when he arrived in Jerusalem -We can conclude that Luke was with Paul during both of Paul’s Roman imprisonments

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Colossians 4:14 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. II Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. II Timothy 4:11 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Philemon 24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Philemon 24

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -The stated objective was to strengthen the faith of Theophilus

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Luke 1:3, 4 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Luke 1:3, 4

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -The stated objective was to strengthen the faith of Theophilus -“Theophilus” means “lover of God” or “friend of God;” was a very common name among both Jews and Gentiles of that time

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -Matthew was written primarily with Jews in mind; Mark was written primarily with the Romans in mind; John was written for the general population of the world -Luke was apparently written primarily to all Gentile readers

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -Thus, Theophilus, although a real person, becomes symbolic of all Gentile readers of the book -Luke explains such things as the position of Palestinian towns (Nazareth, Capernaum, etc.) and the distance of Mt. Olivet and Emmaus from Jerusalem

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -This he would not have had to do for a Jewish audience -Unlike Matthew, Luke does not point to the past and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy in order to prove the Messiahship of Jesus

What We Can Determine About the Recipient and Purpose of the Book -He rather takes a universal view of Christ as the Savior of all man, tying in His lineage all the way back to Adam -From Luke’s detailed descriptions of places in Palestine and his lack of such details in reference to Italy, it is thought that Theophilus was from Italy (perhaps even Rome)

What We Know About the Book Itself -It is the fullest of the four gospel accounts -Matthew has 1071 verses; Mark has 678 verses; John has 879 verses -Luke has 1151 verses -There is a greater emphasis on women in Luke than any of the other gospel accounts

What We Know About the Book Itself -Luke places more emphasis on prayer than any of the other gospel records

Matters Unique to Luke -Over 50% of the contents of Luke is unique -Some 35 miracles are detailed in the gospel records; seven are unique to Luke (three are unique to Matthew and two are unique to Mark)

1) Miraculous catch of fish (5:1-11) 2) Raising of widow of Nain’s son (7:11- 17) 3) Casting out of a demon (11:14) 4) Healing of woman “bowed together” for 18 years (13:10-17) 5) Healing of man with dropsy (14:1-4) 6) Healing of 10 lepers (17:11-19) 7) Restoration of right ear of Malchus (22:49-51)

Matters Unique to Luke -Some 51 parables are found in the gospel records -Luke records 31 of these -18 parables are unique to Luke (ten unique to Matthew; one unique to Mark)

1) The two debtors (7:41) 2) The good Samaritan (10:30-37) 3) The friend at midnight (11:5-8) 4) The rich fool (12:16-21) 5) The watching servants (12:36) 6) The faithful steward (12:42) 7) The barren fig tree (13:6-9) 8) The chief seats (14:7-11) 9) The great supper (14:16-24)

10) The unfinished tower (14:28) 11) The unwaged war (14:31) 12) The lost coin (15:8-10) 13) The prodigal son (15:11-32) 14) The unfaithful steward (16:1-12) 15) The unprofitable servants (17:7-10) 16) The unrighteous judge (18:1-8) 17) The Pharisee & the publican (18:9-14) 18) The pounds (19:11-27)

Matters Unique to Luke -There are several occasions in the life of Jesus that are recorded only in Luke -Although some events are similar, detailed study of these will show that they are separate events that occurred on different occasions

1) Announcements of births of John and Jesus (1:5-56) 2) Accounts of births of both John and Jesus (1:57-2:20) 3) Events in temple when Jesus was 12 (2:21-52) 4) Dating of beginning of John’s ministry (3:1, 2) 5) Impact of John’s preaching (3:10-15) 6) Genealogy of Jesus to Adam (3:23-38)

7) Christ’s rejection at Nazareth (4:15-30) 8) Anointing of Jesus in house of Simon (7:36-50) 9) The women who ministered to Jesus (8:1-3) 10) Desire of James and John to call down fire (9:51-56) 11) Sending out of the 70 (10:1-12) 12) Return and reporting of the 70 (10:17- 24)

13) Christ at home of Mary and Martha (10:38-42) 14) Jesus entertained by a Pharisee (11:37-54) 15) Discourse to a large crowd (12:1-53) 16) Pilate’s murder of Galileans (13:1-5) 17) Teaching that few will be saved (13:22-30) 18) Teaching on discipleship and counting the cost (14:25-35)

19) Regarding the kingdom (17:20-27) 20) With Zacchaeus (19:1-10) 21) His warning to disciples (22:31-38) 22) Some events in Gethsemane (22:43, 44) 23) Trial before Herod (23:6-12) 24) Christ’s words to “daughters of Jerusalem” (23:27-31) 25) Penitent thief on the cross (23:39-43)

26) Two disciples on road to Emmaus (24:13-35) 27) Details of His appearance to the eleven (24:37-39) 28) Christ’s ascension (24:50-53)

Luke provides us with a tremendous study of the life of Christ Without the Holy Spirit’s guiding him to pen this book, there are many things we would not know about our Lord

Much material from “Studies in Luke”- Shertz Lectures, 2003; Lester Kamp