New Testament
Luke
24 chapters
Start reading: Luke 1About this book
Luke is the longest of the four Gospels and the first half of a two-volume work that continues in Acts. The author says he investigated the events carefully and wrote an orderly account so his reader could be sure of what he had been taught. Luke alone tells the stories of Gabriel's visit to Mary, the shepherds, the boy Jesus in the temple, the good Samaritan, the prodigal son and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Again and again Jesus reaches toward people at the margins: the poor, women, tax collectors, foreigners and the sick. Prayer, the Holy Spirit and joy are woven through the whole book. About ten chapters follow Jesus on the long journey toward Jerusalem, where he is arrested, crucified and raised. The Gospel ends with the risen Jesus opening the Scriptures to his followers, promising power from on high and blessing them as he is taken up, so that the story can go on in Acts.
- Author
- Church tradition names Luke, the physician and companion of Paul; the Gospel itself does not sign its name.
- Date
- Often dated c. AD 60–85, with some scholars favoring an earlier date and some a later one.
- Audience
- Theophilus by name, and through him Gentile and Jewish believers wanting certainty about Jesus.
Themes
Good news for the poor and outsidersSalvation for all peoplePrayer and the Holy SpiritJoy and mercyJesus' journey to Jerusalem
Outline
- 1:1–1:4Purpose and prologue
- 1:5–2:52Birth and childhood
- 3:1–4:13John, baptism and testing
- 4:14–9:50Ministry in Galilee
- 9:51–19:27The journey toward Jerusalem
- 19:28–23:55Jerusalem: the passion
- 24:1–24:53Resurrection and ascension
Key verses
Chapters of Luke
- 1Luke 1Luke opens by explaining that he has carefully investigated the events to give Theophilus a well-ordered account.
- 2Luke 2Luke sets the birth of Jesus in the days of a Roman census.
- 3Luke 3In a carefully dated setting, John the Baptist emerges in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance, fulfilling Isaiah's promise of a voice preparing the Lord's way.
- 4Luke 4Filled with the Spirit, Jesus is tested in the wilderness for forty days.
- 5Luke 5Teaching from Simon's boat, Jesus tells the tired fisherman to try the deep water again, and the catch is so large the nets begin to tear.
- 6Luke 6Jesus is challenged over the Sabbath when his disciples pluck grain and when he heals a man's withered hand; he presents himself as lord of the Sabbath and asks whether it is a day for doing good.
- 7Luke 7A Roman centurion, whose servant is dying, sends elders to ask for help, then says Jesus need not come in person, only speak; Jesus marvels at such faith and the servant is healed.
- 8Luke 8Luke notes women who traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry.
- 9Luke 9Jesus sends out the twelve with power and simple instructions, and Herod wonders who he is.
- 10Luke 10Jesus appoints seventy-two others to go ahead in pairs, asking them to pray for more workers, travel light, offer peace and announce that God's kingdom is near.
- 11Luke 11Asked by a disciple how to pray, Jesus gives a short model prayer asking for God's name to be honored, daily bread, forgiveness and protection.
- 12Luke 12With thousands gathered, Jesus warns his disciples against the yeast of hypocrisy and tells them not to fear people, since God cares for each sparrow and knows each person.
- 13Luke 13Told of tragedies, Jesus refuses to blame victims and calls everyone to repent, adding the parable of a fig tree given one more year to bear fruit.
- 14Luke 14At a Pharisee's home on the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man with swollen limbs and asks whether rescuing someone is lawful on that day.
- 15Luke 15When religious leaders grumble that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them, he answers with three parables about lost things.
- 16Luke 16Jesus tells of a manager facing dismissal who shrewdly uses his master's resources to make friends, and Jesus commends the foresight, not the dishonesty, urging his followers to use worldly wealth wisely, be faithful in small things, and remember that no one can serve both God and money.
- 17Luke 17Jesus warns that stumbling blocks will come and calls his followers to rebuke, forgive and forgive again; when the apostles ask for more faith, he says even a little is powerful, and servants who do their duty should not expect special praise.
- 18Luke 18Jesus teaches persistence in prayer through a widow who keeps pressing an unjust judge, and warns against self-righteousness with a parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector, where the humble, honest prayer of the tax collector is the one that is heard.
- 19Luke 19In Jericho, Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector, climbs a tree to see Jesus, who invites himself to his home; Zacchaeus welcomes him joyfully, promises to give to the poor and repay those he cheated, and Jesus declares that the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.
- 20Luke 20In the temple, priests and elders challenge Jesus' authority; he answers with a question about John's baptism and then tells the parable of tenants who mistreat the owner's servants and finally his son, warning that the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.
- 21Luke 21Jesus notices a poor widow giving two small coins in the temple and says she gave more than the rich, because she gave all she had.
- 22Luke 22As Passover nears, the leaders seek a way to arrest Jesus, and Judas agrees to betray him.
- 23Luke 23Jesus is brought before Pilate, who finds no basis for the charges and sends him to Herod, who mocks him and sends him back; the crowd demands Barabbas be released instead, and Pilate yields.
- 24Luke 24At dawn on the first day of the week, women find the tomb empty and are told by two men in dazzling clothes that Jesus has risen as he foretold.