  Luke shows a sweeping historical vision  Tracing a new religious movement from Bethlehem to a (hoped for) faith of the Roman Empire  Luke places Jesus’ career at the center of this history Luke’s historical vision

  Luke sees Jesus as the link between Israel’s Biblical past to a future multi-national Gentile Church  Jesus’ ministry represents a new beginning of understanding God’s intentions for humanity  Luke looks forward rather than to an apocalyptic end Luke’s philosophy

  Acts portrays the disciples entering a new historical epoch  It concludes with Paul’s concentration on ministering to the Gentiles Acts

  Very likely a Gentile  Educated, with an extensive vocabulary and polished Greek style  Some say he was a physician  Some say he was an apostle of Paul  He does not seem to know about Paul’s letters, though Who is Luke?

  Luke-Acts was written mid-80s  (after the Jewish wars and before Paul’s letters were published)  Probably written in Ephesus  He dedicates the work to Theophilus Date

  1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. Preface

  Apparently dissatisfied with previous versions  Incorporates 45-50% of Mark  Sometimes rearranges Mark’s order of events, for example Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth  Mark has it in the middle  Luke starts with it  Q  L  Hebrew Bible as reference Luke’s sources

  1. The Holy Spirit  2. The Importance of Jerusalem  3. Christianity as a Universal Faith  4. Jesus’ Concern for Women  5. Jesus’ Affinity with the Unrespectable  6. Jesus as Savior Luke’s Major Themes

  Luke is convinced that Jesus’ ministry and the growth of Christianity are not historical accidents  He believes they are the result of the Holy Spirit, an invisible force from God that guides human thought and action  Luke uses this term 14 times, more than other writers Holy Spirit

  For Luke, it is the Spirit that is responsible for the faith’s rapid expansion throughout the Roman Empire  Both Paul and Luke see the Christian community as charismatic —Spirit led and Spirit powered Spirit in Acts

  Luke links the important events in Jesus life with Jerusalem  Infancy and childhood visits to the Temple  Jesus’ fateful confrontation with Roman and priestly authorities  All Jesus’ post resurrection appearances at or near Jerusalem (Mark says Galilee)  Jesus instructs followers to remain in Jerusalem where they will receive the Holy Spirit Importance of Jerusalem

  The way that Luke emphasizes Jerusalem it fulfills God’s ancient promises to Israel Sacred Ground

  For Luke, Christianity is intended for “all nations” not just those who have followed the Torah  Simeon prophesies that the infant Jesus will be a “revelation” to the Gentiles  Luke’s genealogy goes back to Adam, symbolizing all of human history  Luke notes that even Peter, who initially did not wish to admit Gentiles to the Church, now welcomed them Christianity as Universal Faith

  Elizabeth  Mary  Mary and Martha the privilege “shall not be taken from them” (Luke 10: 38-42)  Galilean women who follow and give financial support (Luke 8:2-3)  Witnessing the crucifixion and being first to receive the news of resurrection Concern for Women

  ‘a friend of tax gatherers and sinners’  The notorious woman who crashes a Pharisee’s dinner party and washes his feet with her tears  Jesus was accused of being a glutton and drinker  Luke’s version of the great banquet, the doors are thrown open to ‘the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind’... (those incapable of returning hospitality) The Unrespectable

  Matthew stressed Jesus as Israel’s messiah  The Gentiles don’t particularly care about that  Luke uses the Greek term soter, a term widely used in the Greco-Roman world applied to gods, demigods, and human rulers.  For Luke, Jesus is the Savior of repentant humanity Jesus as Savior

 Infancy Narrative  Matthew and Luke agree that  Jesus was born in Bethlehem  To a virgin, Mary  And Joseph, a descendant of David

  Luke interweaves the birth stories of Jesus and John the Baptist  The Baptist, the last of Israel’s prophets  Jesus, setting forth a new world order

  Luke dates John’s birth in King Herod’s reign  Luke dates Jesus’ birth in the reign of the emperor, Augustus  This places Jesus in a global, not a local context

 Mary  Luke gives emphasis to Mary’s role by having Gabriel announce to her  The Latin version of Gabriel’s speech is the “Ave Maria”  The Magnificat is Mary’s prayer of exaltation  It reflects very closely Hannah’s prayer at the conception of Solomon

 Bethlehem  Luke uses a stable as a setting  He has shepherds visit, not foreign astrologers  Luke does not mention Herod’s attempt to kill the child  Luke does not mention flight into Egypt

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 boyhood  The only mention of Jesus’ boyhood in the New Testament appears in Luke  The visit to the temple  Jesus ‘advanced in wisdom and in favor with God and men’ is almost exactly the wording describing young Samuel (1 Sam 2:26

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