Overview
Luke is the most comprehensive of the four Gospels, presenting Jesus as the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost. Its twenty-four chapters provide a carefully researched, orderly account that emphasizes Jesus' compassion for the marginalized—the poor, women, Samaritans, sinners, and Gentiles.
The Gospel opens with the infancy narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus, including the Magnificat and the shepherds' visit, before tracing Jesus' ministry from Galilee through a lengthy travel narrative to Jerusalem. Luke preserves many parables found nowhere else: the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Luke's passion narrative emphasizes Jesus' innocence and His prayer for His executioners, while the resurrection accounts culminate in the Emmaus road encounter and Jesus' ascension. The Gospel ends with the disciples in the Temple praising God, setting the stage for the continuation of the story in Acts.
Historical Background
Luke is attributed to Luke the physician, a Gentile companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14). The Gospel is the first volume of a two-part work completed by Acts. It is generally dated between AD 60 and 80, with the earlier date supported by Acts' ending before Paul's death.
Luke addresses his Gospel to most excellent Theophilus, indicating a patron of some social standing, possibly a Roman official or benefactor. The careful historical framework reflects Luke's concern for accuracy and his training as a physician-scholar.
Luke is the third Gospel in the canonical order and the longest book in the New Testament. Its emphasis on the Holy Spirit, prayer, joy, and the universality of salvation makes it a distinctive and beloved account of Christ's life and ministry.
Devotional
Luke's Gospel overflows with what the world least expects from God: attention to the overlooked. Shepherds receive angelic announcements; a sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet; a despised tax collector hosts the Savior at dinner. Luke reveals a God whose eyes scan the margins, not the center stage.
The parable of the Prodigal Son is the gospel in miniature. The father does not wait at the door with folded arms but runs—runs!—to embrace the returning son. Before the son can finish his rehearsed speech, the father has already ordered the robe, the ring, and the feast. Repentance begins in the far country; restoration begins in the father's heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. Mary's Magnificat announces the great reversal that characterizes the kingdom of God. Luke insists that the gospel is not merely spiritual comfort for the comfortable but a fundamental reordering of values, power, and priority.
The risen Christ walked with two discouraged disciples on the Emmaus road, opening the Scriptures until their hearts burned within them. This is still how the Lord meets His people: in the breaking of bread, in the opening of the Word, in the quiet companionship of the living Savior on the dusty roads of daily life.
Chapters
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of thos...
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augu...
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being...
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the...
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of Go...
And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through...
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered...
And it came to pass afterward , that he went throughout every city and village,...
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority...
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and...
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased,...
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of...
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose bl...
And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to...
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a s...
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: b...
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and...
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the t...
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning , they came unto t...