Introduction To The Gospel Of Luke Series

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

There are two words I want you to notice: “Eyewitness” is the Greek word autoptai—auto meaning “that which is of itself,” and opsomai meaning “to see.” “To see for yourself” would be an eyewitness. It is a medical term which means to make an autopsy. Dr. Luke is saying, “We are eyewitnesses who made an autopsy, and I am writing to you about what we found.”

The second word is ministers, which is the Greek huperatai, meaning “an under–rower on a boat.” In a hospital the “under–rower” is the intern. Dr. Luke is saying that all of them were just interns under the Great Physician. What Luke is telling us is that as a physician and a scholar, he made an autopsy of the records of those who had been eyewitnesses.

These first 4 verses are the introduction to Luke’s gospel account. Luke wrote his Gospel to give people certainty and assurance about the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke identifies himself with other believers (v. 1). Some think that Luke may have been among the 72 Jesus sent out on the missionary journey (10:1–24) because of his notation that the things were fulfilled among us. That is doubtful, however, because of the next statement that these “things” were handed down to him by the eyewitnesses of Jesus would negate that possibility. Luke implies that he was not an eyewitness but a researcher. He was thorough and exact in his research! He has investigated for his account everything from the beginning, that is, from the first of Jesus’ life.

Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 202).

We believe that Dr. Luke, as Paul refers to him in:

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

Luke is a physician and that his gospel account of the life of Jesus was written sometime before 70 AD, perhaps 62 or 63 AD. In addition, not only does Luke write the Gospel of Luke or the Acts of Jesus, but he also wrote the Acts of the Apostles. Notice:

Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

Luke’s account of the gospel of Jesus is NOT just a list of chance occurrences, or a series of circumstances! No, Luke sees this as the fulfilment of God’s divine plan, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy! Notice these words in:

Luke 22:22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

(This is clear from 22 other verses in Luke and Acts! See also 1:45, 54, 55, 69, 70; 2:38; 3:3–6; 4:21, 43; 5:32; 7:20; 9:22, 44; 12:50; 18:31–33; 19:41–44; ch. 21; 24:25–28, 44–49. And for Acts see 2:23; 3:18; 4:28.)

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke (Vol. 11, p. 55). Baker Book House.

Notice Luke says, “I’m writing to you about all the things that Jesus ‘began’ to do and teach!” What Jesus began to do and teach in this world, according to the narrative of Luke’s gospel account, He continues that work through the life and ministry of the apostles in the book of Acts. By the way, the Lord Jesus Christ is still at work in the lives of God’s people and in the lives of sinners today!

Why is the Gospel of Luke important? Well, according to William Hendriksen, the Gospel of Luke sheds light on today’s problems:

1) It is a book of DOCTRINE showing us what to believe.

2) It is a book of ETHICS showing us how to live.

3) It is a book of COMFORT showing us how to rejoice.

4) It is a book of PROPHECY showing us what to expect.

1. THE TELLING OF THE EPIC

Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

The story of Jesus Christ is a miraculous one! It is epic! Each of the writers of the four gospel accounts take a different approach to telling the epic story of Jesus. For example: