Luke-Acts notes
I am encouraging everyone to read Luke-Acts a chapter a
week. I encourage you to just read one
chapter as I know I have the tendency to want to read quickly. I suggest breaking the chapter into short
readings to be read over the course of the week. For instance chapter one starts with a prolog
and then to the birth of John and finally to Mary’s pregnancy. Read the verses carefully as sometimes
familiar verses can be overlooked. Also
reading different versions of the bible is helpful to see how others might have
translated the Greek. When I do an
in-depth study I focus on first the NIV, NRSV, and CEB. When I want to look at how paraphrases might
be I go to the Message, NLT, and rarely to the Good News Bible. There are times the KJV or the NKJV can
provide additional insights. If you have
access to a commentary especially one that has been written within the last 10
years that is helpful. Also a good Bible
dictionary can be insightful to look at meaning of names and places that are mentioned
in the scriptures.
So what can we tell about these books of the bible. There are significant differences as well as
similarities with the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke are the synoptic
gospels due to the number of similarities). The writer appears to be a Gentile
and is often associated with Luke who accompanied Paul on a number of trips to
spread the gospel to other Gentiles. His
emphasis on women is often seen as one who may be a physician. Luke takes most of Mark and some of Matthew and
adds material that is not found in either of the others. Matthew was likely written mostly to Jewish
Christians. Mark likewise appears to be
written to Jewish Christians.
The writer of these two documents appears to be the
same. The reason is that they are
addressed to the same “person”, the emphasis on Gentile ministry, and the use
of educated Greek rather than translations from Aramaic or Hebrew.
Luke 1:1-4 Luke’s purpose
So why is Luke writing? The key is found in the prolog of the
gospel. Luke is writing to
Theophilius. This name is Greek as is
the name of Luke. It is easy to suggest that Luke is writing to recent converts
who are gentiles and not Jews. My CEB
bible subtitles the first section of Luke as Luke’s purpose for writing. The name Theophilus can have a double
meaning. Theo can be translated as God
and philus as lover. So he could be
writing to anyone who loves God including you and me. The purpose of writing is to insure the new
believers of the truth which they have been taught. The author has taken what others have said
and letters that were written and decided to write himself in order that
believers faith may be strengthened.
The author admits that he does not have firsthand knowledge
of what Jesus said or did. He is gathering
what others have written, stories that have been told from the beginning, and
other sources. He is not trying to write
something to correct what has been told.
Instead he is trying to write a comprehensive account carefully ordered
that will enhance one’s faith. I was
reading Justo Gonzalez commentary on Luke[1]
that the author would be like a sports commentator who writes about a sporting
event. Their perspective of the game may
contain the basic elements with their particular view. As mentioned before each of the gospels
contain the basic elements but are written is such a way presenting the authors
point of view.
The why of the writing is to insure that the reader have
confidence in what they had been taught.
Whether Theophilus was a person or applies to all who love God is not
that significant except for each of us to remember that Jesus was born, Jesus
lived, Jesus died, and Jesus rose. It
that sense all the gospels agree. The
emphasis here with Gentile believers helps with us today that the ministry of
Christ is inclusive to all people not just to a select few.
Luke 1:5-25 John the Baptist’s birth foretold
We begin a parallel story with Zechariah and Elizabeth
pregnancy and birth and the story of Mary and her pregnancy. Zechariah was a priest. As part of his responsibilities, he was
chosen by lottery to enter the holy of holies where the Ark of the Covenant was
located to burn incense and to pray.
Only those chosen priests were allowed to enter into this part of the
temple. The belief was that the presence
of God would be found in this part of the temple and only the high priest or
those acting on his behalf could be in that presence.
A side note sometimes
names are important to understand when one reads scriptures. So here are some
suggestions of names that we will encounter in this first chapter.
Theophilus: friend or lover of God, Greek
Elizabeth: God is my vow, Hebrew. Should remind of the
stories of barren women Sara, Hannah, etc.
Zechariah: God has remembered, Hebrew. Note the similarities
with the Old Testament Prophet
Mary: several suggestions could mean beloved, Aramaic,
Hebrew. A derivative of Miryam or Mariam sister to Moses
Jesus: God Saves, Hebrew.
Yeshua
Gabriel: God is my mighty one, Hebrew.
Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were from the Levites or the
priestly tribe. To best understand what
it might have been like for the two of them, a priest in good standing was to
have children as a childless couple were seen as being cursed by God. Can you imagine the gossip that went around about
how this supposedly righteous couple would be unable to conceive. They would be held in contempt with people
wondering what sin they had committed to receive the wrath of God. This despite the many stories of couples who
miraculously had children at an advanced age.
So when Gabriel appeared to Zechariah no wonder he doubted, much like
Abram and Sara.
Gabriel speaks about John and what he will do. He is to be
raised as a nazirite. He will not drink
alcohol. He will act like Elijah proclaiming God’s will and announcing the
coming of the Messiah. He will call the
people to repent and to come into a righteous relation with God. The author than speaks of Zechariah being
silenced until the birth of his son. At that point he speaks as a prophet. One of the themes of Luke-Acts is the
silencing of the priests and giving voice to the prophetic. When Elizabeth becomes pregnant she does not
say anything until she is five months along.
She then believes as the child is probably moving and kicking at that time
that this is the Lord’s doing and has shown favor to me by removing her
disgrace from among the people.
Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation to Mary
The main difference between Matthew’s account of the birth
of Jesus and Luke’s is that Joseph has almost no part in the story. His name is
only mentioned in passing. According to
Luke the only reason to mention him is that he was descended from the house of
David. In the genealogy of Jesus, we see
two lines of both king and priest coming together. The prophets have always said that the
Messiah would come from the house of David.
Luke does emphasize that Mary was a virgin in the physical as well as
being a young maiden.
Mary also doubted but is not condemned or silenced for her
doubt. We have the verse 1:17, “Nothing
is impossible for God.” The importance
is once again the miraculous birth. As
her relative is pregnant at such an advanced age, now we have a virgin who will
conceive. The writer points to the
pregnancies as being special and beyond rational explanation.
Luke 1:39-45 Mary visits Elizabeth
Luke again speaks of women as Mary only greets
Elizabeth. Elizabeth despite her own
miraculous pregnancy immediately recognizes Mary’s unborn son. Both of the cousins respond to the presence
of the Messiah. Elizabeth’s disgrace has
been removed and yet she praises Mary the mother of my Lord. 1:45 ends with Elizabeth speaking, “Happy is
she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” It is true not just for Elizabeth but for all
of us to believe that God will fulfill the promises God has made to all of
us. And that promise will come through
Mary’s son.
Luke 1:46-66 The Magnificat and birth of John
After hearing what Elizabeth has to say, Mary praises
God. One of the themes of Luke is that
Jesus came to turn things upside down.
The arrogant, prideful, the powerful, and the rich will be brought down
and scattered. It will be the humble and
meek people who will be exalted. He will
feed the hungry not just in a spiritual sense but also in the physical sense.
(see Luke 4: 14-21; 6:20-26)
Mary stays for 3 months.
At that time, Elizabeth gave birth to John. When Zechariah was asked to name the child,
he did so and at that point was able to speak.
But his first words are not as a priest but as a prophet.
Luke 1:67-80 Zechariah’s prophesy
He begins by calling people to bless God because he has come
to help and deliver his people. He has
brought about the Messiah and salvation.
He has shown mercy and remembered his holy covenant. Zechariah’s son will be called the prophet of
the Most High as he goes to prepare the way for the Lord. John will tell people how to be saved through
the forgiveness of their sins.
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