Gospel of Luke
Acts of the Apostles: Jesus
the Savior
Background
- Luke was a Gentile-Christian
- Responsible for writing the gospel
with the most words and its sequel
(Acts of the Apostles)
• Together make up more than a
quarter of the New Testament
-Style, language, and organization of
the Gospel and Acts are very similar
• Both works addressed to
Theophilus
Background
Do we really know the author?
- Identified as St. Paul’s coworker from
Antioch
• Remained Paul’s friend
• Probably used a travel diary to
construct some of the history of Acts
• The prologue mentions Luke was
from Antioch in Syria and died in
Greece
-Certain that he did not know the
historical Jesus in person and did
not come from the Holy Land
Background
- Author of Luke was a brilliant artist with
words
• Wrote beautiful polished Greek
- Wrote for Gentile Christian churches
- Major Theme
• Universality of Jesus’ offer of salvation
- Gospel intended for everyone
• Gentiles do not have to convert to Judaism
to accept Jesus
Background
Three main sources for writing:
1.) Mark’s Gospel
2.) Q: common source
3.) L: unique source
MARK
M
MATTHEW
LUKE
Q
L
Background
The prologue provides solid
information on:
• Why the gospel was written
• What it is about
• How the author went about writing it
Background
-Special Lucan material included:
• Early hymns
• Finding of Jesus at the Temple
• Genealogy
• Collection of parables
• Group of miracle stories
Background
- Luke dedicated his gospel to Theophilus
Name means
“lover of God”
Name helps prove the unity of
Luke’s two-volume work
Background
- In his opening gospel address to
Theophilus, Luke states his reasons for
writing:
• He wants to show Theophilus and all
readers that the instruction in the
Christian faith was sound.
• His purpose in writing the Gospel
was the strengthen their faith
Common Themes
Common themes in Luke and Acts:
1.) Jesus as a prophet
2.) The Church continues Jesus’
prophetic ministry
3.) The role of the Holy Spirit in
salvation history
4.) Prayer, joy, peace
5.) The special role of Mary and
women
Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
- Jesus reveals that through him, the
prophesy about the Messiah is
taking place
• God’s kingdom is present
• What Isaiah prophesized is
happening right now
Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
Jesus outlines his ministry:
• Preach the gospel
• Help people live freely
• Perform acts of mercy
• Work for justice
• Celebrate God’s presence in
the world
Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
-The scene at Nazareth foreshadows
Jesus’ public life
• Met with initial acceptance,
however, people change their
opinion and reject and kill the
innocent prophet in Jerusalem
Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 4:14-44
- The synagogue scene underscores
two other themes that appear in Luke
and Acts:
• The role of the Holy Spirit
• The importance of prayer in the life
of Jesus and of the early Church
Common Themes
2.) Church Continues Jesus’ Prophetic Mission: Acts 1-2
-Luke depicts the characteristics of an
ideal Christian community
• Christian fellowship or communion
• Praying for each other
• Gospel truth as handed on by the
apostolic eyewitnesses
Common Themes
3.) Role of the Holy Spirit
- Stresses the vital role of the Holy Spirit in salvation
history
- Luke viewed history in three dramatic stages:
• Stage 1 - Age of Promise
• Stage 2 - The Times of Jesus
• Stage 3 - The Age of the Church
-Holy Spirit appears frequently in Luke and Acts
Common Themes
4.) Prayer
- A pervasive theme in Luke and Acts
- Jesus prayed:
At His Baptism
In the Synagogue
In lonely places
At His Transfiguration
Hanging on the Cross
The night before choosing
the Apostles
Common Themes
4.) Prayer
-Message to be learned is that we
should pray as often as the
Master did
-Acts of the Apostles shows how the
early Church heeded this
advice well
Common Themes
4.) Joy and Peace
-Themes are evident from the opening verses of the gospel
• Often connected with prayer
-Message of several of his parables also highlighted the
theme of great joy over the return of lost sinners
-Key event in Jesus’ life that results in joy:
• Entry into Jerusalem during Holy Week
-Most joyous occasion is his resurrection
Common Themes
5.) Special Role of Mary and Women
- Women were considered inferior to men
- Jesus’ attitude toward women was positive
and revolutionary
• He included women as the central
characters in two of His parables (the Lost
Coin and the Unjust Judge)
- Most significant was the women who
witnessed his death and resurrection
- Mary illustrated a major Lucan theme God’s preferential love for the poor
Messiah & Savior
- In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is a
compassionate Messiah who has
come to prove God’s great love
- Makes Jesus the friend of the friendless
• Shepherds, usually considered outcasts,
were the first to visit Jesus’ birth
• Offering of the poor
• Presentation in the Temple
Messiah & Savior
- More than the other three gospels
Luke reassures the poor and
warns the rich
- God blesses the poor - not only
those socially disadvantaged
but also those that recognize
they are nothing without
God
- Challenges the rich to repent
before it is too late
Messiah & Savior
-Luke’s is the only Gospel that records the
story of Lazarus and the rich man
-Lazarus means:
“May God help”
or
“The one whom God helps”
-Jesus is warning that those who have
plenty in this life must share with
those who have less
Messiah & Savior
- Luke reports Jesus reached out to
Zacchaeus, a tax collector
• Jesus was enacting a living
parable of God’s love for sinners
• Jesus’ compassion also
extended to outcasts
Love of Enemies
- God’s love and compassion knew
no bounds - nor should ours
• Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Our neighbor is everyone
Messiah & Savior
- Luke’s Chapter 15 is the very heart of the
gospel
- Contains three memorable parables that deal
with God’s great compassion and his joy over
repentant sinners:
1.) The parable of the lost sheep
2.) The parable of the lost coin
3.) The parable of the lost or prodigal son
Messiah & Savior
-Most common title of Luke for Jesus is
“Lord”
-Luke presented Jesus as a martyr:
“witness”
• Jesus’ death is a witness, and example
for all for how consistent, loving,
faithful, and compassionate he is
-Concludes his gospel with the
resurrection appearances
- Emmaus story summarized entire gospel
Overview of Acts
- Chapter 2 of Acts reports:
• The coming of the Holy Spirit
• Outpouring of gifts
• Peter’s kerygmatic sermon
• Pentecost Sunday
• Ideal characteristics of the earliest church
Overview of Acts
-Second major section shows how
Philip preached the good
news to the Samaritans
-Shifts to Peter who preached in
Joppa and Lydda, performed
miracles, and had important
visions
-King Herod began persecuting
Christians
-Paul and Barnabus began their first
missionary journey