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New Testament · Gospel · Book 42 of 66

Gospel of Luke

The carefully researched Gospel of the Savior for all people: Jesus, who came to seek and to save the lost.

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24 Chapters

Luke 1–24

Author

Luke the Physician

Written

c. A.D. 60 – 80

Written For

Theophilus

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Birth
Galilee
Journey
Cross
Overview

Gospel of Luke Summary

Luke is the longest of the four Gospels and the first volume of a two-part work that continues in the book of Acts. Luke begins by explaining that, after investigating everything carefully from the beginning, he decided to write an orderly account so that Theophilus might know the certainty of the things he had been taught (1:1–4). The Gospel gives the fullest account of Jesus’ birth and childhood, with the stories of Elizabeth, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna.

Luke stresses that Jesus came for everyone: the poor, women, tax collectors, Samaritans and Gentiles. Much of the material is found only in this Gospel, including the parables of the good Samaritan, the lost son and the rich man and Lazarus, and the stories of Zacchaeus and the thief on the cross. It also gives special attention to prayer, the Holy Spirit and joy. The key verse is 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

After Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, a long central section (9:51–19:27) follows Him on the journey to Jerusalem. The book then moves through the final week to the cross, the empty tomb, the walk to Emmaus and the ascension (24:1–53), and it ends with the disciples worshiping and praising God.

About the Name

Title

The traditional Greek title is Kata Loukan, “According to Luke.” The word “gospel” comes from the Old English godspel, “good news,” which translates the Greek word euangelion.

The Gospel is addressed to Theophilus (1:3), whose name means “lover of God.” Acts is addressed to the same person (Acts 1:1). Luke and Acts together make up about a quarter of the New Testament.

Who Wrote It

Author Details

Neither Luke nor Acts names its author. Early church tradition identifies him as Luke, the doctor and a companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). He is usually thought to be a Gentile, since Paul lists him separately from those “of the circumcision” (Colossians 4:11, 14).

Passages in Acts that say “we” (for example, Acts 16:10–17 and 27:1–28:16) suggest that the author traveled with Paul. Luke did not witness Jesus’ ministry himself, and he says he relied on eyewitnesses and earlier accounts (1:1–2). 

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

The date is debated, and this page gives a range of about A.D. 60–80. Some scholars place Luke in the early 60s, since Acts ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome without telling how his case ended. Others place it after A.D. 70, because Luke seems to have used Mark, and Luke 21:20–24 speaks of Jerusalem surrounded by armies.

The Gospel does not say where it was written. Luke writes in polished Greek and explains Jewish customs and places for readers who were not Jewish.

Study Guide

Luke Outline

24 chapters in six parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

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Part I

Prologue and Infancy

1:1–2:52 · The coming of John and of Jesus

Read this passage · 1:1–4

Read this passage · 1:5–25

Read this passage · 1:26–38

  1. Mary visits Elizabeth · 1:39–45
  2. Mary’s song (the Magnificat) · 1:46–56
  1. John is born and named · 1:57–66
  2. Zechariah’s song (the Benedictus) · 1:67–80
  1. Jesus is born in Bethlehem · 2:1–7
  2. The angels and the shepherds · 2:8–20
  1. Jesus is presented to the Lord · 2:21–24
  2. Simeon’s blessing · 2:25–35
  3. Anna the prophet; the return to Nazareth · 2:36–40

Read this passage · 2:41–52

Part II

Preparation for Ministry

3:1–4:13 · John, the baptism, the genealogy and the temptation

  1. The word of God comes to John · 3:1–6
  2. John’s preaching · 3:7–14
  3. The coming One; John imprisoned · 3:15–20

Read this passage · 3:21–22

Read this passage · 3:23–38

Read this passage · 4:1–13

Part III

Ministry in Galilee

4:14–9:50 · Teaching, healing and the question “Who is Jesus?”

Read this passage · 4:14–30

  1. A man with an impure spirit · 4:31–37
  2. Simon’s mother-in-law and many others · 4:38–41
  3. Jesus goes on preaching · 4:42–44

Read this passage · 5:1–11

  1. The man with leprosy · 5:12–16
  2. Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man · 5:17–26
  1. Levi is called · 5:27–32
  2. A question about fasting · 5:33–39
  3. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath · 6:1–5
  4. The man with a shriveled hand · 6:6–11
  1. Jesus chooses the Twelve · 6:12–16
  2. Crowds come to be healed · 6:17–19
  3. Blessings and woes · 6:20–26
  4. Love your enemies · 6:27–36
  5. Judging others · 6:37–42
  6. A tree and its fruit; the wise and foolish builders · 6:43–49
  1. Jesus heals a centurion’s servant · 7:1–10
  2. Jesus raises a widow’s son at Nain · 7:11–17

Read this passage · 7:18–35

Read this passage · 7:36–50

  1. Women who followed Jesus · 8:1–3
  2. The parable of the sower and its meaning · 8:4–15
  3. A lamp on a stand · 8:16–18
  4. Jesus’ mother and brothers · 8:19–21
  1. Jesus calms the storm · 8:22–25
  2. The demon-possessed man of the Gerasenes · 8:26–39
  3. Jairus’s daughter and the woman who touched Jesus · 8:40–56
  1. Jesus sends out the Twelve · 9:1–6
  2. Herod’s perplexity · 9:7–9

Read this passage · 9:10–17

  1. “God’s Messiah”; the first prediction of His death · 9:18–22
  2. Take up your cross daily · 9:23–27
  1. The Transfiguration · 9:28–36
  2. Jesus heals a boy with an impure spirit · 9:37–43
  3. The second prediction of His death · 9:44–45
  4. Who is the greatest; whoever is not against you · 9:46–50
Part IV

The Journey to Jerusalem

9:51–19:27 · Discipleship, parables and the way of the cross

  1. A Samaritan village refuses Jesus · 9:51–56
  2. The cost of following Jesus · 9:57–62
  1. Jesus sends out the seventy-two · 10:1–16
  2. The return of the seventy-two; Jesus rejoices · 10:17–24
  1. The parable of the good Samaritan · 10:25–37
  2. Martha and Mary · 10:38–42
  1. The Lord’s Prayer · 11:1–4
  2. The friend at midnight; ask, seek, knock · 11:5–13
  1. A charge of Satan’s power and Jesus’ reply · 11:14–28
  2. The sign of Jonah · 11:29–32
  3. The lamp of the body · 11:33–36

Read this passage · 11:37–54

  1. Beware of hypocrisy; fear God and acknowledge Jesus · 12:1–12
  2. The parable of the rich fool · 12:13–21
  3. Do not worry · 12:22–34
  1. Watchful servants and the faithful manager · 12:35–48
  2. Not peace but division · 12:49–53
  3. Interpreting the times · 12:54–59
  1. Repent or perish; the barren fig tree · 13:1–9
  2. A crippled woman healed on the Sabbath · 13:10–17
  3. The mustard seed and the yeast · 13:18–21
  1. The narrow door · 13:22–30
  2. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem · 13:31–35
  1. Jesus heals a man with swollen limbs · 14:1–6
  2. Humility and hospitality · 14:7–14
  3. The parable of the great banquet · 14:15–24

Read this passage · 14:25–35

  1. The lost sheep · 15:1–7
  2. The lost coin · 15:8–10
  3. The lost son and his brother · 15:11–32
  1. The shrewd manager · 16:1–13
  2. Additional sayings to the Pharisees · 16:14–18
  3. The rich man and Lazarus · 16:19–31

Read this passage · 17:1–10

Read this passage · 17:11–19

Read this passage · 17:20–37

  1. The persistent widow · 18:1–8
  2. The Pharisee and the tax collector · 18:9–14
  1. Little children and the kingdom · 18:15–17
  2. The rich ruler · 18:18–30
  1. Jesus predicts His death a third time · 18:31–34
  2. A blind beggar near Jericho · 18:35–43
  1. Zacchaeus the tax collector · 19:1–10
  2. The parable of the ten minas · 19:11–27
Part V

The Final Days in Jerusalem

19:28–21:38 · Teaching in the temple and the Olivet discourse

  1. Jesus enters Jerusalem · 19:28–40
  2. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem · 19:41–44

Read this passage · 19:45–48

Read this passage · 20:1–8

Read this passage · 20:9–19

  1. Paying taxes to Caesar · 20:20–26
  2. The resurrection and marriage · 20:27–40
  3. Whose son is the Messiah? · 20:41–44
  4. Warning about the teachers of the law · 20:45–47

Read this passage · 21:1–4

  1. The destruction of the temple foretold · 21:5–7
  2. Signs and persecution · 21:8–19
  3. Jerusalem surrounded · 21:20–24
  4. The coming of the Son of Man · 21:25–33
  5. Be watchful · 21:34–36
  6. Jesus teaches in the temple each day · 21:37–38
Part VI

The Passion and Resurrection

22:1–24:53 · The cross, the empty tomb and the ascension

Read this passage · 22:1–6

  1. Preparing the Passover · 22:7–13
  2. The Lord’s Supper · 22:14–23
  3. Who is the greatest · 22:24–30
  4. Peter’s denial predicted; purse, bag and sword · 22:31–38
  1. Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives · 22:39–46
  2. Jesus is arrested · 22:47–53

Read this passage · 22:54–65

Read this passage · 22:66–71

  1. Jesus before Pilate · 23:1–5
  2. Jesus before Herod · 23:6–12
  3. Jesus sentenced · 23:13–25
  1. The way to the cross · 23:26–31
  2. Jesus is crucified · 23:32–43
  3. The death of Jesus · 23:44–49

Read this passage · 23:50–56

Read this passage · 24:1–12

Read this passage · 24:13–35

Read this passage · 24:36–49

Read this passage · 24:50–53

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