The Gospel According to Luke

     Author:  (top)

Most agree that Luke and Acts are from the same author. The introductions to both books mention 'Theophilus' (Luke 1:4, Acts 1:1) to whom both of the works are addressed, the introduction in Acts implies that it is the second of two books (Acts 1:1), and the style and vocabulary seem to match, all indicating that both were written by the same author, and no good reason has been suggested to dispute this.

The "anti-Marcionite prologue" (c.150 AD) and the Muratorian Canon (c.170 AD) ascribe the gospel to Luke; and Irenaeus and Tertullian (both 2nd Century) give no indication that they doubt Luke's authorship in their writings. The early Church gives us no indication of any doubt concerning the authorship of the third gospel at all, therefore pointing to incredibly strong external indications that the gospel was written by Luke (the doctor). It must also be considered that if the work were falsely ascribed to Luke, it would be hard to find a reason why Luke were chosen (as he was not as well known as the apostles) or why there is no mention of another possible author or doubt of its authenticity.

The authorship discussion for the book of Acts contains a summary of the general points of objection to Lukan authorship of Luke-Acts, but it must be concluded that there is no good reason to question the attributation of the third Gospel (and Acts) to Luke.

     Date:  (top)

Luke was definitely written previous to the Book of Acts. There seems to be two time periods within which the two works could have been written, approximately 60-62 AD and 75-85 AD. For reasons described in the date section of my introduction to the book of Acts I would tend towards the earlier time period, dating Luke at c.60 AD.

     Content:  (top)

• 1:1-4 Introduction
• 1:1-4 Luke's introduction to Theophilus.
• 1:5-4:13 The pre-history of Jesus' ministry
• 1:5-25 The birth of John the Baptist foretold.
• 1:26-56 The birth of Jesus foretold.
• 1:57-80 The birth of John the Baptist.
• 2:1-20 The birth of Jesus.
• 2:21-52 Jesus' childhood.
• 3:1-20 John the Baptist baptises and preaches of the coming Christ.
• 3:21-37 The baptism and genealogy (through Joseph) of Jesus.
• 4:1-13 Jesus tempted.
• 4:14-6:16 Jesus begins His ministry
• 4:14-30 Jesus rejected in His hometown.
• 4:31-37 Jesus drives out an evil spirit.
• 4:38-44 Jesus heals many.
• 5:1-11 Jesus calls His first disciples.
• 5:12-26 Jesus heals a man with leprosy and a paralytic man.
• 5:27-32 Jesus calls Levi, the tax-collector.
• 5:33-38 Jesus is questioned about fasting by the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
• 6:1-11 Jesus shows that He is Lord of the Sabbath.
• 6:12-16 Jesus chooses the twelve.
• 6:17-8:21 Jesus teaches concerning many things
• 6:17-26 Jesus teaches concerning blessings and woes.
• 6:27-36 Jesus teaches concerning love for enemies.
• 6:37-42 Jesus teaches concerning judging others.
• 6:43-45 Jesus teaches concerning the fruit of men.
• 6:46-49 Jesus teaches concerning the man who hears His words but does not put them into practice.
• 7:1-10 Jesus encounters a Centurian with great faith.
• 7:11-17 Jesus raises a widow's son from the dead.
• 7:18-35 Jesus discusses the positions of Himself and John the Baptist.
• 7:36-50 Jesus anointed by a sinful woman.
• 8:1-21 Jesus teaches concerning mature belief with the parable of a farmer sowing seed and the analogy of a lamp under a jar.
• 8:22-10:24 Jesus performs many miraculous signs and teaches His followers
• 8:22-25 Jesus calms a storm.
• 8:26-39 Jesus heals a man possessed with many demons.
• 8:40-56 Jesus heals a sick woman and raises a dead girl.
• 9:1-9 Jesus sends out the twelve to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
• 9:10-17 Jesus feeds five thousand.
• 9:18-20 Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ of God.
• 9:21-27 Jesus teaches concerning the life of true faith.
• 9:28-36 Jesus is transfigured and spoken of by God.
• 9:37-43a Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy.
• 43b-45 Jesus again foretells His death.
• 9:46-50 Jesus teaches on the meaning of greatness.
• 9:51-56 As they travel towards Jerusalem, they encounter opposition from the Samaritans.
• 9:57-62 Jesus teaches on the cost of following Him.
• 10:1-24 Jesus sends out 72 to preach, heal the sick and drive out demons.
• 10:25-21:38 Jesus teaches concerning many things and performs more miraculous signs
• 10:25-37 Jesus teaches concerning love for others with the parable of the good Samaritan.
• 10:38-42 Jesus teaches at the home of Mary and Martha.
• 11:1-13 Jesus teaches concerning prayer.
• 11:14-28 Jesus teaches concerning Beelzebub, and true membership of a kingdom.
• 11:29-32 Jesus promises 'the sign of Jonah.'
• 11:33-36 Jesus teaches concerning personal holiness, again using an illustration of a lamp.
• 11:37-54 Jesus warns the Pharisees and teachers of the law of many woes.
• 12:1-12 Jesus offers warnings and encouragements to His followers.
• 12:13-21 Jesus teaches concerning the worthlessness of material possessions with the parable of the rich fool.
• 12:22-34 Jesus teaches to trust in God's provision.
• 12:35-48 Jesus tells His hearers to watch and be ready for their master's return; for He will come like a thief in the night.
• 12:49-53 Jesus proclaims that His message will bring division.
• 12:54-59 Jesus tells His hearers to 'interpret the times' and act accordingly.
• 13:1-9 Jesus teaches concerning the need for repentance with the parable of a fig tree and its fruit.
• 13:10-17 Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath.
• 13:18-21 Jesus teaches concerning the Kingdom of God.
• 13:22-30 Jesus teaches concerning salvation and instructs His hearers to "enter through the narrow door".
• 13:31-35 Jesus expresses His sorrow for Jerusalem.
• 14:1-14 Jesus teaches concerning the Sabbath, living selflessly and living in humility, while at a Pharisees house.
• 14:15-24 Jesus teaches concerning the need to accept God's 'invitation', with the parable of the great banquet.
• 14:25-35 Jesus warns of the cost of following Him.
• 15:1-32 Jesus teaches concerning the joy of salvation with the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.
• 16:1-15 Jesus teaches concerning the wise and godly use of this world's wealth, with the parable of the shrewd manager.
• 16:16-17 Jesus teaches concerning the Law and Prophets.
• 16:18 Jesus teaches concerning divorce.
• 16:19-31 Jesus teaches concerning the absoluteness of heaven and hell, with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
• 17:1-10 Jesus teaches concerning sin, faith and duty.
• 17:11-19 Jesus heals ten of leprosy, but only one returns to give praise to God.
• 17:20-37 Jesus teaches concerning the coming of the Kingdom of God.
• 18:1-8 Jesus teaches concerning prayer, with the parable of the persistent widow.
• 18:9-14 Jesus teaches concerning humility and self-exaltation, with the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee.
• 18:15-30 Jesus teaches concerning the attitude one must possess to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, with the example of children and the parable of the rich ruler.
• 18:31-34 Jesus again predicts His death.
• 18:35-43 Jesus heals a blind man.
• 19:1-10 Zacchaeus the tax-collector finds salvation.
• 19:11-27 Jesus teaches concerning the Kingdom of God, with the parable of the ten minas.
• 19:28-48 Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly yet Laments for the great city and clears the temple.
• 20:1-8 Jesus' authority is questioned.
• 20:9-19 Jesus teaches concerning the need to accept His authority, with the parable of the tennants.
• 20:20-26 Jesus teaches to 'give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's'.
• 20:27-40 Jesus teaches concerning resurrection and marriage.
• 20:41-44 Jesus questions the crowd on their understanding of the Christ.
• 20:45-21:4 Jesus teaches concerning true godliness.
• 21:5-38 Jesus teaches concerning the coming of the end of the age.
• 22:1-24:50 The Last Supper, Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
• 22:1-6 Judas decides to betray Jesus.
• 22:7-38 Jesus and the disciples join for the Last Supper.
• 22:39-46 Jesus prays earnestly.
• 22:47-53 Jesus is arrested.
• 22:54-62 Peter disowns Jesus.
• 22:63-65 The guards mock Jesus.
• 22:66-23:25 Jesus is sent before Pilate and Herod.
• 23:26-49 Jesus is crucified and dies.
• 23:50-56 Jesus is buried in a new tomb.
• 24:1-13 Jesus' tomb is found empty.
• 24:13-35 Jesus appears to two followers on the road to Emmaus, but they are kept from recognising Him until He had broken bread with them.
• 24:36-49 Jesus appears to His disciples.
• 24:50-53 Jesus ascends into heaven.