GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
INTRODUCTION TO LUKE’S GOSPEL
Author
Although Luke does not sign his work the way other New Testament authors do, the companion book, Acts, has four long sections in which the author says “we” rather than “they.” In the first (Acts 16:10-17), we find that the author first joins Paul in the city of Troas on the west coast of Asia Minor. In the second section (Acts 20:5-15), we are told with certainty that the author is not Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, Trophimus or Tychicus (Acts 20:4). In the third (Acts 21:1-18), the author leaves Paul and remains behind in Jerusalem. Finally, in the fourth section (Acts 27:1-28:6) we are told that the author was with Paul on the long and incredibly dangerous voyage to Rome which included the shipwreck on Malta (Acts 28:1). Based on the men mentioned by Paul as being with him in his imprisonment following this voyage, Luke the Gentile physician is the most likely author of the Gospel and of Acts. Luke is described as Paul’s fellow worker in Philemon 24, as “our dear friend Luke, the doctor” in Colossians 4:24, and as the only one still with Paul in his second imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11). He indicates (Luke 1:2) that he was not an eyewitness of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but that he carefully investigated everything. His long association with Paul and his time in Jerusalem would have given him ample opportunity for this personal investigation into the story of Jesus the Savior.
Date
We don’t know precisely when the third Gospel was written, but we can say with certainty that it was completed shortly before the writing of Acts, since the one depends on the other (“In my former book…,” Acts 1:1). Since the book of Acts ends with Paul in prison in about 63 A.D., there is every reason to believe that Luke wrote this Gospel during his early association with Paul, his trip(s) to Jerusalem (Acts 21:15) and before he wrote Acts, during about 59-63 A.D.
Purpose
Luke’s purpose in writing is to present the Good News of Jesus Christ first to his friend Theophilus, but secondly and more importantly to present this Good News to the Gentiles. It is here that we hear Simeon’s song, calling Jesus “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel,” and it is in Acts that Luke records the happy words about Paul: “This man (the Lord said) is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
Style
Luke’s Greek ranges from classical (1:1-4) to more ordinary. He is a student of the Greek Septuagint (LXX), the Old Testament translation he uses in almost all his quotations. Luke’s vocabulary is quite large. All three synoptic authors use some words unique to their books, but Luke’s proportion is considerably larger:
Words unique to Matthew: 116
Words unique to Mark: 79
Words unique to Luke (Gospel): 266
Words unique to Luke (Acts): 415
Words unique to Luke (Gospel and Acts): 60
There are some peculiarities to Luke’s style. As a physician (Colossians 4:14), we might expect Luke to use certain medical terms with more precision than Matthew, Mark or John, and this is indeed the case. Luke was also a seasoned traveler, not just around the Sea of Galilee, but across the wide expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore his sailing vocabulary stands some scrutiny, and this will bring some benefit to us as we read these two books, one after the other.
The Synoptic Gospels
Together with Matthew and Mark, Luke is known as one of the Synoptic Gospels. “Synoptic” means “seeing together.” The authorship of each one does not necessarily depend on that of the others, but rather a common message: the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Luke tells us plainly that he “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” (Luke 1:3). Matthew of course was an eyewitness from the time of his calling (Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27). There is an ancient tradition from Papias that Mark recorded only those things that were presented in Peter’s preaching.
It was possible for Luke to have interviewed Matthew, and likely that he spoke with Peter or heard the Apostle preach. His records of those and other eyewitnesses make a compelling case for the similarities in their accounts. But of course we also leave to the Holy Spirit the matter of divine inspiration, especially according to Peter’s own words: “Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
Outline
There are many outlines of Luke’s Gospel, mostly similar. They are useful for navigating through this long book and for understanding the flow of Luke’s thought throughout. I offer this outline for the same purpose. There are twelve sections, each with two chapters. The first part is ten chapters long, the second part eight chapters, the third part six chapters. To my mind, it is a little like the image a Gentile might have of entering into the tabernacle or the temple. One travels from the largest outside area (Galilee) into the somewhat smaller, inner area (Judea) and then into the Holy of Holies, Jerusalem. But this is only a way of looking at the outline of the book. As with any outline, we must take special care not to let the artificial (the outline) overshadow the truth (the contents).
I. Jesus in Galilee (1-10)
1. Elizabeth and Mary give birth to John and Jesus (Luke 1-2)
2. John and Jesus in Galilee (Luke 3-4)
3. Jesus preaches and calls the Twelve (Luke 5-6)
4. Miracles and parables in Galilee (Luke 7-8)
5. Jesus withdraws from Galilee (Luke 9-10)
II. Jesus in Judea (11-18)
6. Preaching and warning in Judea (Luke 11-12)
7. Miracles and parables in Judea (Luke 13-14)
8. The great parables and further warnings (Luke 15-16)
9. Ministry in Perea (Luke 17-18)
III. Jesus in Jerusalem (19-24)
10. Jesus enters Jerusalem (Luke 19-20)
11. The Last Days and Last Supper (Luke 21-22)
12. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension (Luke 23-24)
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit bless our study of this Gospel.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
God’s Word for You – Introduction to Luke’s Gospel