Overview
The Gospel of Luke is the first volume of a two-part work, continued in the Acts of the Apostles, that together comprise nearly a quarter of the New Testament. Addressed to a certain and written in polished Hellenistic Greek, Luke presents an 'orderly account' of the things accomplished in , situating the gospel within world history and the broader sweep of God's purposes for and the nations.
Luke's portrait of Jesus is marked by tenderness, social radicalism, and a profound concern for those on the margins. Only Luke gives us the parables of the Good and the Prodigal Son, the songs of , , and , the story of , and the encounter on the road to . Women, the poor, tax collectors, , and repeatedly take center stage, embodying a gospel that lifts up the lowly and brings down the proud.
Luke is also the evangelist of prayer and the . Jesus prays at every major turning point of his ministry, and the Spirit moves powerfully through the story from the conception of to the post-resurrection promise of power from on high. The Gospel ends in with the ascending Jesus blessing his disciples, opening the door to the Spirit-driven worldwide mission narrated in Acts.
Authorship & Dating
Traditional view: Christian tradition, beginning with the second-century witness of Irenaeus and the Muratorian Canon, identifies the author as Luke, a physician and companion of the apostle Paul mentioned in Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 24. The same author is said to have written Acts.
Scholarly view: Modern scholars generally agree that Luke and Acts share a single author, but most regard the work as formally anonymous, attached to Luke's name in the second century. Whether the author was personally a companion of Paul remains debated, though many accept some connection to the Pauline mission.
Dating: Luke-Acts is commonly dated to the 80s CE, after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE (presupposed in Luke 21) and using Mark as a major source, with some scholars placing it as late as the early second century.
Historical Context
Luke writes in the late first century, in a Greco-Roman world dominated by the Roman Empire, with the church increasingly composed of and increasingly distinct from the synagogue. The destruction of in 70 CE looms in the background, and the Christian movement is spreading across the urban centers of the Mediterranean. Luke addresses readers who are sophisticated, predominantly Gentile, and interested in how this new faith relates to 's Scriptures, Roman society, and world history.
The formal preface (1:1–4) places Luke within the conventions of ancient Greco-Roman historiography. He has investigated everything carefully, drawn on eyewitnesses and earlier accounts, and seeks to give assurance about the truth of what he has been taught. He is careful to synchronize his narrative with imperial and provincial rulers, anchoring the gospel in datable history.
Luke's social world is one of stark inequalities of wealth and power, patronage relationships, and the marginalization of women, the poor, and ethnic outsiders. His Gospel responds with a vision of the kingdom that subverts these structures: a king born in a manger, a Messiah anointed to preach good news to the poor, and a church where the once-excluded find a place. This sets the trajectory that explodes outward in Acts as the gospel moves from to Rome.
Timeline
- Births of John the Baptist and Jesus foretold
announces the births of John to and of to , and Mary sings the Magnificat at 's home.
Luke 1 - Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Under the census of , is born in , announced by angels to shepherds, and presented in the temple.
Luke 2 - Ministry of John and baptism of Jesus
preaches repentance, is baptized in the , and Luke records the genealogy from Jesus back to .
Luke 3 - Inaugural sermon at Nazareth
reads from in the synagogue and announces that the Spirit has anointed him to proclaim good news to the poor.
Luke 4:14–30 - Galilean ministry of healing and teaching
calls disciples, performs miracles, teaches the Sermon on the Plain, and welcomes sinners and outcasts.
Luke 5–9 - Setting his face toward Jerusalem
begins the long travel narrative toward , sending out the seventy and teaching the great Lukan parables.
Luke 9:51–19:27 - Parables of mercy and reversal
tells the parables of the Good , the Prodigal Son, the Rich Fool, and Lazarus and the Rich Man.
Luke 10:25–37; 15; 16 - Entry into Jerusalem and weeping over the city
enters to the praise of his disciples and weeps over the city, foretelling its destruction.
Luke 19:28–44 - Last Supper and arrest
shares the with his disciples, instituting the new covenant in his blood, then prays on the and is betrayed.
Luke 22 - Trials and crucifixion
is tried before the Sanhedrin, , and , then crucified, forgiving his executioners and welcoming the repentant thief into paradise.
Luke 23 - Resurrection appearances and Emmaus road
The risen walks with two disciples on the road to , is made known in the breaking of bread, and appears to the gathered disciples.
Luke 24:1–49 - Ascension at Bethany
leads his disciples out to , blesses them, and is carried up into heaven, leaving them worshiping with great joy.
Luke 24:50–53
Themes
- Good news for the poor and marginalized
From 's Magnificat to ' sermon, Luke proclaims a gospel of social reversal in which the poor, the hungry, and the excluded are lifted up.
- Salvation for all peoples
Luke traces ' lineage back to , includes and in the story, and sets the stage in Acts for a worldwide mission that knows no ethnic boundary.
- Jesus and the Holy Spirit
The is active from the conception of John and through Jesus' ministry and into the promise of Spirit-empowered witness, linking Luke to Acts.
- Prayer
prays at his baptism, before choosing the Twelve, at his transfiguration, in Gethsemane, and on the cross, modeling and teaching prayer to his disciples.
- Joy and praise
Luke is filled with songs and outbursts of joy—the Magnificat, the Benedictus, the Gloria, and the Nunc Dimittis—celebrating God's saving acts.
- Concern for women
Luke prominently features women such as , , , , , , and , often as exemplars of faith and discipleship.
- Wealth, poverty, and possessions
speaks frequently and pointedly about money, warning of greed, calling for generosity, and reversing the fortunes of rich and poor.
- The plan of God in history
Luke presents ' ministry as the fulfillment of Scripture and the centerpiece of God's saving plan, unfolding 'according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.'
Outline
- 1:1–4Preface— Luke's literary dedication to , explaining his historical method and purpose.
- 1:5–2:52Infancy narrative— Announcements, births, and childhoods of and , including the canticles of , , and .
- 3:1–4:13Preparation for ministry— 's preaching, ' baptism, genealogy, and wilderness temptation.
- 4:14–9:50Galilean ministry— Inaugural sermon at , calling of disciples, Sermon on the Plain, miracles, and revelation of ' identity.
- 9:51–19:27Journey to Jerusalem— Extended travel narrative featuring Luke's distinctive parables and teachings on discipleship, prayer, possessions, and the kingdom.
- 19:28–21:38Ministry in Jerusalem— Triumphal entry, temple teaching, conflicts with religious leaders, and predictions about and the end.
- 22:1–23:56Passion narrative— , prayer on the , arrest, trials before Jewish and Roman authorities, and crucifixion.
- 24:1–24:53Resurrection and ascension— Empty tomb, road, appearances to the disciples, commissioning, and ascension at .
Where Luke takes place
19 mapped places · marker size reflects how often each place is mentioned in Luke.