Introduction

What is the Book of Luke About?

Read this 3-minute introduction to help you find your bearings in the Bible story, and be inspired to read Luke!

Videos
on Luke

Historical Context
of Luke

Accordion Content

Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14) and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote this Gospel and its sequel, the book of Acts.

—ESV Global Study Bible  

Interestingly, no one knows anything of Luke’s origin. He was definitely nonapostolic, and he was a Gentile (cf. Colossians 4:11, 14). By his own admission he was not an eyewitness to the story he records in his brilliant account (Luke 1:2). But Luke was well educated and cultured, and a physician to boot. Though we don’t know the details of his conversion, he apparently reached Christian maturity before coming under Paul’s influence. He became an intimate acquaintance of Paul, as the so-called “we sections” in Acts attest (16:10-17; 20:5; 21:18; 27:1-28:16). Very possibly he is the anonymous brother “who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel” in 2 Corinthians 8:18. This certainly accords with his humble, self-effacing manner in keeping himself in the background of both Luke and Acts. 

Kent Hughes

Content taken from Luke: That You May Know the Truth by R. Kent Hughes, ©2012. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  

From Bibles.net: Remember that the ultimate author of every book of the Bible is the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:21). He has written this book to equip you for life, to help you know the true God, and to give you hope (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4). The Holy Spirit wrote Luke for your good and to lead you into joy.

The earliest possible date of Luke–Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in Acts 28, which would have been c. AD 62. Both Luke and Acts are addressed to “Theophilus” (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1), about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” (Luke 1:4) about Jesus.

The Setting of Luke  

The events in the book of Luke take place almost entirely within the vicinity of Palestine, an area extending roughly from Caesarea Philippi in the north of Beersheba in the south. During this time it was ruled by the Roman Empire. The opening chapters describe events surrounding Jesus’ birth in Judea, where Herod had been appointed king by the Romans. The closing chapters end with Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension during the rule of Pontius Pilate and the tetrarchs Antipas and Philip.

Unless otherwise indicated, this content is adapted from the ESV Global Study Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©2012 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Books

Message Series
on Luke

Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and Lord
by Sinclair Ferguson and J. Rushton

In this phenomenal 25-part message series, Sinclair Ferguson and J. Rushton take us to key moments in Luke’s gospel that teach us about Jesus—who he is and what he came to do. Through God’s Word in Luke, you will encounter Jesus, the Savior and Lord, and we pray these messages help you know, love, trust, and obey him.

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Luke Dictionary

As you read through Luke, you might come across words and ideas that are foreign to you. Here are a few definitions you will want to know! Note that this dictionary was created for the New International Version (NIV) Bible.

Heavenly beings created by God before he created Adam and Eve. Angels act as God’s messengers to men and women. They also worship God.

In the Old Testament, wash with water. But in the New Testament, when John the Baptist called the people to be baptized, he was using water to show that people were truly sorry for the wrong things they had done and that they were asking God to forgive their sins. Today, a person is baptized to show that he or she is a member of God’s family.

The family name of Julius Caesar, a famous Roman leader. Later the name Caesar was added to the name of each Roman ruler, so it became a title that meant the same as “emperor” or “king.”

Counting the number of people living in an area or country.

An officer in the Roman army who was the leader of 100 men.

An evil spirit working for Satan (the devil). People can be tempted, harassed or possessed (controlled) by demons. Jesus has authority over all demons and in his earthly ministry ordered evil spirits to come out of many people.

A decision of the will to stop feeling angry and to stop blaming a person for something wrong he or she has done; to be friends again. God forgives everyone who repents of his or her sins and believes that Jesus died to take the punishment for his or her sins. When God forgives a person, God forgets the person’s sins forever. God instructs Christians to forgive each other in the same way He has forgiven them.

The northern part of the land of Israel in Jesus’ day. Jesus grew up, preached and did most of his miracles in Galilee. Galilee is also the name of a large lake in this area.

The family name of five kings appointed by the Roman emperor to rule Judea in New Testament times. Jesus was born during the rule of Herod the Great. The names of the other four kings are Herod Archelaus, Herod Antipas, Herod Agrippa I and Herod Agrippa II.

The most important priest of all the priests, who served God in the tabernacle and later in the temple. In the Old Testament, the high priest offered the most important sacrifices to God for the people. In New Testament times, he was also a powerful political leader. He was the head of the Sanhedrin—the group of men who governed the Jewish people. He even had a small army. The high priest wore special clothing described in Exodus 28:1-39. Aaron was the first high priest. All other high priests were his descendants. The New Testament says that Jesus Christ is now our high priest, the one who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins (see Hebrews 8–9).

The most important city of Bible times. Jerusalem was the capital of the united kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. The temple was built in Jerusalem, so many people traveled to the city to worship God. In 587 BC, Jerusalem was captured and mostly destroyed by Babylonian armies. The city was rebuilt when the Jews returned after 70 years of exile in Babylon. Jesus taught in the city of Jerusalem, was crucified outside the city wall, was buried near the city, and then rose again. The first Christian church began in Jerusalem after the Holy Spirit came to the believers there.

God’s rule in the lives of His Chosen People and His creation. In the Old Testament, the people in the kingdom of God were the Israelites. In the New Testament and today, the people in God’s kingdom are those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes again, then God’s kingdom will become visible to all people.

(1) All the rules God gave to help people to know and love Him and to live happily with each other. The Ten Commandments are part of God’s law. (2) The first five books of the Bible. These five books are often called the Law. (3) The entire Old Testament. Sometimes the Old Testament is referred to as the Law. (4) Any rule that must be obeyed, whether it was decided by God or by people. (5) God’s rules in the Old Testament plus other rules added by Jewish religious leaders. (6) The conscience of an unbeliever who knows he or she has not followed his or her own moral code (see Romans 2:14-16).

Serious skin diseases. People with leprosy were called lepers. The Jewish law said that lepers had to stay away from people who did not have the disease. Lepers lived outside their cities and towns, either by themselves or with other lepers, until the disease showed signs of healing.

A story that teaches a special lesson or truth. Jesus often told parables to teach important lessons.

In the time of Jesus, a Jew who tried very hard to obey every part of the Jewish law. Many Pharisees sincerely tried to please God and to be holy, but some of them worried more about keeping every little rule than about caring for people. Jesus commended the Pharisees for what they taught but often scolded them because of what they did. Speaking of those Pharisees and scribes who opposed him, Jesus said on the outside they seemed very holy, but on the inside they were full of lies and hate (see Matthew 23). Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) was a Pharisee. Many other Pharisees also ended up following Jesus.

Among the Jews, a man who offered prayers and sacrifices to God for the people. Priests led the public worship services at the tabernacle and later at the temple. Often the priests also taught the Law of God to the people. The priests of Israel were all descendants of Aaron’s family. All Christians are also priests (see 1 Peter 2:9). We are to help others learn about and worship God.

Men and women in the Old and New Testaments chosen by God to tell His messages to people. Also refers to the 17 Old Testament books written by prophets.

To correct someone sternly; to scold someone.

The most powerful enemy of God and all people. Other names for Satan include the devil, the evil one, the prince of this world, the father of lies, the enemy, the adversary, and Lucifer. Satan is the ruler of a kingdom made up of demons. He hates God and tries to destroy God’s work. The Bible tells us that in the end, God will destroy Satan and the demons.

A place where Jews meet together to read and study the Old Testament and to worship God.

The permanent place in Jerusalem where the Jews worshiped God. The first Temple was built by King Solomon and the people by following the instructions God had given Solomon’s father, King David. The Temple was a very beautiful place. It was destroyed and rebuilt twice. In AD 64, the Temple was destroyed again but was not rebuilt.

The head of a part of a country the Roman Empire divided into four sections. In the New Testament, Herod Antipas is sometimes called a tetrarch and sometimes a king. He was the ruler of Galilee in the time of Jesus.

Dictionary Source

This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Tough Questions
from Luke

We have found answers to some tough questions that we anticipate may arise as you read Luke. We know we can’t answer every question you will have; therefore, we have written this article, so you know how to find answers for your kids: How Do I Answer Tough Questions About the Bible?

Insights about Luke

The following insights are from pastors and scholars who have spent significant time studying the book of Luke.

[Luke chapter 1] Verse 1 says… and this, I think, is interesting. These people had undertaken to compile an account of “the things accomplished among us” (NASB). It could have said “the things concerning Jesus” [since] they’re writing the life of Christ, but he doesn’t. This is so important. He goes to the goal of everything and he says the story is not a story about Jesus as if that’s the end of the story. It’s a story about what God accomplished among us through him. That’s the issue. Luke emphasizes the issue of divine accomplishment. Luke’s story is about what God accomplishes in the lives of sinners through Jesus Christ, that’s what it’s about… It is a history of salvation. That’s what it is.  It’s redemptive history. And that’s what Luke wrote; he wrote redemptive history.

—John MacArthur

Source: Copyright 2023, Grace to You. All rights reserved. Used by permission. This Grace to You article originally appeared here at gty.org.

Though Luke does not quote the Old Testament to the same extent that Matthew does, his narrative is full of Old Testament images and motifs. His purpose is to show that this is not the beginning of a new religion. It is the fulfilment of an old one. God’s promises to Israel are coming to fulfillment through Jesus the Messiah.

—Mark L. Strauss

Source: Strauss, Mark L. “Luke: The Gospel of the Savior For Lost People Everywhere.” BibleProject. 2018.

In a 2007 interview for Newsweek, the well-known atheist and bestselling author Sam Harris said, “I don’t want to pretend to be certain about anything I’m not certain about.” I think Luke would agree with Mr. Harris, which is why he wrote his famous gospel. We should never pretend, especially when it comes to what we believe about God. This does not mean that we can never be certain, however. On the contrary, Luke’s Gospel was written to give greater certainty about the person and work of Jesus Christ (see Luke 1:1-4). 

—Phil Ryken 

Source: Luke: Volume 1, Chapters 1-12 (Reformed Expository Commentary), Philip Graham Ryken, Copyright 2009, P&R Publishing, Philipsburg, NJ.

The rest of the Gospel of Luke is written in the common Greek, but not the prologue. Luke did this, I think, because he wanted to establish the lofty, literary character of this work. It is such a high quality of Greek, by the way, that it was obvious that Luke was highly educated. If it didn’t tell us in the Bible that he was a physician, we would assume that he had had some kind of high-level education because of his handling of the classical form of Greek. 

By using this kind of Greek as he introduces his gospel, he is claiming a place for the gospel as a classic. He is claiming a place for the gospel as a serious work, as a true work of literary, historical worth to be given attention by the most sophisticated and highly educated Gentile or Greek reader. Luke is claiming a place for Christianity among the classics. He’s claiming a place for Christianity on the stage of world history. And while much of the New Testament literature was written for the church and therefore the common people, Luke had in mind the world and he wanted to make sure that he included those who were at the very highest levels of education. 

—John MacArthur  

Source: Copyright 2023, Grace to You. All rights reserved. Used by permission. This Grace to You article originally appeared here at gty.org.

If there were other accounts, if there were other narratives about Jesus’ life, why did it seem, as Luke put it there, why did it seem good to him to write another one? That’s pretty bold! Like were the other ones not good enough? Was the Gospel of Mark just missing stuff that Luke thought, “Man, you really missed it Mark, let me show you how to do it. Let me set an example of how to write a gospel well.” Why would Luke write his own [gospel]? 

Well beloved, the reason that Luke said it seemed good to him to write his own narrative is not because of a lack in the other accounts—in the other narratives about Jesus’ life—but because of a lack in the person that he’s writing to. Did you see that there in verse four? Look at verse four with me. It says that the reason he’s written his gospel is so that Theophilus may have certainty concerning the things he had been taught about Jesus (Luke 1:4).  

So in other words, Luke wrote his narrative less to give Theophilus new information about Jesus and more to bring clarity and certainty to the information about Jesus that he already had. So again, Luke wasn’t merely writing to inform Theophilus about the life of Jesus, he was writing to persuade Theophilus about the meaning of Jesus’ life, and to motivate him to follow Jesus, to give his life to Jesus, to bow his heart to Jesus as Lord… 

So in other words, as one writer put it, “Luke’s primary challenge was related to the significance or meaning of Jesus’ life and its story, not to its verification.” He wasn’t writing to us who are two thousand years removed and trying to plead with us to believe that what he is writing is historically verifiable. He assumes it’s historically verifiable! He assumes it’s true—there are eyewitnesses. What Luke is writing is to say, “This true story, here’s what it means for you and for me and for the whole world.”  

—Beau Hughes  

Source: Beau Hughes, quoted from his message, “Luke, Theo, and the Gospel of Jesus” from his series The Gospel of Luke on Luke 1:1-4, preached at The Village Church Denton on November 26, 2017.

Luke was a medical doctor. In fact, Paul called him “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). But this was not because he excelled in the healing arts. It is rather because he was a lover of people, a man who could submit his ego and desires to the service of others. As already mentioned, some believe he was “the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel” in 2 Corinthians 8:18. Luke was a doctor of souls!

He delighted in mentioning individuals: Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, Cleopas, the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet. Jesus’ parables in the Gospel of Matthew center on the kingdom, but those in Luke stress people.

Luke’s Gospel transcends the first century’s neglect of women. We hear their names more there than in any other gospel: Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Martha, her sister Mary, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, the widow of Nain, the widow who gave all she had, the daughters of Jerusalem, the women in Jesus’ parables.

We see Luke’s heart for babies and children in the stories of the infancy of John and Jesus. Luke gives us the only information about Jesus’ boyhood. He also speaks of various individuals’ only sons or only daughters.

Luke also shows himself powerfully disposed to the poor. He portrays Jesus as coming to preach the gospel to the poor and blessing the poor. The shepherds were poor. Joseph and Mary made an offering of the poor at Jesus’ birth. Luke cared about the poor. He also repeatedly warned about the dangers of riches. The parables he recorded repeatedly return to these themes: the rich fool, the unjust steward, the rich man who ignored the beggar Lazarus, the rich young ruler, the widow’s mite.

Luke was a tender doctor of souls. His ethos will touch and penetrate ours, and we will be sweeter and more tender as we give our souls to the study of his gospel.

Kent Hughes

Source: Content taken from “Luke: That You May Know the Truth” by R. Kent Hughes, ©2012. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 

Luke is the Gospel for the outcast on the earth. It is Luke who tells of the good Samaritan (see Luke 10:33), the publican (see Luke 18:13), the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-24), Zacchaeus (see Luke 19:2) and the thief on the cross (see Luke 23:43). He is the writer who has the most to say for womanhood (see Luke 1–2). Luke records Jesus’ compassion for the woman of Nain and the depths of His mercy for the woman who was a sinner. His regard for women and children is shown repeatedly (see Luke 7:46; 8:3; 8:42; 9:38; 10:38-42; 11:27; 23:27).  

Luke alone tells us about the bloody sweat in Gethsemane; the walk with two disciples to Emmaus; Jesus’ leading His disciples out as far as Bethany and that as He lifted up His hands and blessed them, He was parted from them.

—Henrietta Mears

Source: This content is from What the Bible Is All About, written by Henrietta Mears. Copyright © 1953, 2011 by Gospel Light. Copyright assigned to Tyndale House Publishers, 2015. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 

Luke’s first volume (Luke) focuses mainly on Jesus’ invitation to his own people to follow him. Then in the next volume (Acts) the invitation goes viral, extending to everyone everywhere. In volume one (Luke), the movement is all toward Jerusalem, the center of Jewish national life, and ultimately the backdrop for Jesus’ final conflict with the religious establishment. In volume two (Acts), things move progressively out from Jerusalem, as word about Jesus spreads across the Roman Empire.

—Community Bible Experience  

Source: “Community Bible Experience: New Testament, Luke Acts Overview.” Posted by “Zondervan,” April 16, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa1BgrXHA3k  

Luke Playlist

Discover music inspired by the message and content of the book of Luke.

Heavenly Hosts
by for KING & COUNTRY | Contemporary
Mary’s Song (Our King of Peace)
by Wendell Kimbrough feat. Page CXVI | Folk
Magnificat
by Keith & Kristyn Getty | Choral
He Is Good
by JUDAH & John Van Deusen | Pop
Friend Of Sinners
by We Are Messengers | Pop 
The Prodigal
by Sovereign Grace Music | Contemporary