Overview of the Book of Luke

The overview of the week for this Sunday is the Gospel according to Luke.

Luke is known as the beloved physician, and like Mark, he was not one of the Twelve

Apostles.

However, he was a close associate of the Apostle Paul.

And while Paul wrote the majority of the New Testament books, Luke is actually

responsible for the most content.

The book of Luke is the largest gospel, and of course, he also wrote the book of Acts.

The theme of Luke's gospel is Christ the man.

The next book, John, will highlight Jesus and his divinity, but Luke focuses

more on Christ's humanity.

He gives many details about the birth of Jesus and how he was born of a virgin.

In chapter 3, he provides his genealogy on the side of his mother Mary, which goes

all the way back to Adam.

Luke wrote sometime around 60 to 61 AD, and he's writing to a Greek

audience.

Since we see in chapter 1, he's writing to a man named Theophilus.

That's obviously a Greek name.

Content that is unique to Luke includes the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the

lost son.

Luke also records the mission of the 70 disciples Jesus sent out to heal

the sick.

It is generally accepted that Luke is the only New Testament author, really the only

biblical author, that is not Jewish.

Luke contains 24 chapters.

Chapter 24 begins with the resurrection.

Jesus then appears to his disciples, he eats with them, and then makes reference to the giving

of the Holy Spirit, at which point he is taken up into heaven.

We'll close with this.

Luke finishes the book by saying, Now it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he was parted from

them and carried up into heaven.

And they, the disciples, worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.

Amen.