The Gospel of Luke is the longest of the four Gospels. Unlike the other Gospels, it is actually a two-part work consisting of both Luke and Acts. Part 1 (Luke) follows the life and ministry of Jesus. Though the Gospel is technically anonymous the identity of Luke as the author is determined by the ‘we’ passages found in Acts and the references to him found in Paul’s letters. In Colossians we learn that Luke was both a Gentile and a doctor (Colossians 4:10-15). This being the case Luke is potentially the only Gentile author of Scripture.
Luke wasn’t one of the twelve and had never met Jesus. However, he was a companion of Paul and knew the apostles. Luke gathered together eyewitness accounts and he compiled them together into his two-part work. Luke has been careful to put together a flowing account which (though not strictly chronological) clearly portrays the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Luke is dedicated to Theophilus who likely commissioned Luke to write the manuscript. Owing to the ending of the book of Acts, the Gospel of Luke was potentially written around 63AD. In it, Luke shows how the events that took place surrounding the ministry of Jesus are part of the larger plan of God. The coming of Jesus is both the continuation and the climax of God’s plan of redemption. This plan of redemption is ultimately realised through His death and resurrection.
Of the four Gospels, Luke’s is the most social, with more focus given to Jesus’ interactions with others. Luke seems to have a concern with the universality of the Gospel and gives particular attention to the marginalised. Specifically, we find more of a focus on women, Samaritans, the poor and sinners. It is also in Luke’s Gospel that we uniquely have some of the most famous parables such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.
Luke’s gospel shows how the events that took place surrounding the ministry of Jesus are a part of the larger plan of God. The book of Luke can be outlined as follows:
1:1-2:52 - The births of John and Jesus
3:1-9:50 - The Galilean Ministry
9:51-18:34 - On the road to Jerusalem
18:35-22:29 - The passion and Resurrection
The Gospel begins with the accounts of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus the Messiah. After the four hundred or so silent years since the prophets spoke, the silence is broken. An angel appears to the priest Zechariah announcing the birth of John the Baptist who will be the final prophet that will precede the coming of the Messiah. It is in Luke’s gospel that we learn about the births of John and Jesus which is viewed from the perspective of Mary (it also contains the only story of Jesus as a boy). However, the coming of Jesus is the continuation and climax of God’s plan of redemption. This is ultimately realised through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Throughout the Gospel there is a focus on the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit to Luke is the central character by which God’s plan of Salvation is revealed and realised. We see how John will be filled with the Holy Spirit (1:15) and will in turn announce the coming of Jesus who will baptise with the Holy Spirit (3:16). The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary for her to conceive Jesus (1:35). Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon all were filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the salvation of Israel (1:41, 67, 2:25). At his baptism the Holy Spirit then descends bodily upon Jesus (3:22). After His baptism, He goes by the power of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness (4:1). Following the temptation, He enters a synagogue and reads Isaiah 61 (4:16-22). This declaration He applies to Himself and announces His ministry throughout Luke. It is through the anointing of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is commissioned to announce and demonstrate the Gospel of salvation. This He then does throughout His Galilean Ministry.
A key moment in the book of Luke is 9:51 where Jesus sets his face towards Jerusalem. Though Jesus still spends time in Galilee and Perea it is from this point that Jesus focusses in on his death (9:51-18:34). This period is often referred to as the Perean ministry. Though Matthew and Mark make brief allusions to it, it is uniquely found in detail in Luke. It is in this section that we have some of the most famous parables such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son to name a few.
The final section covers Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem which culminates in His crucifixion and resurrection which has been anticipated throughout. The book ends with the disciples told to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Luke then records Jesus ascending into heaven and the disciples returning to Jerusalem with great joy where they were continually in the temple praising God (24:44-52). This sets up Part 2 the book of Acts.