Very early in the Christian Church (160-180 A.D.), a straight-forward record of evidence recorded Luke is Paul's companion who wrote the Gospel and Acts. A prologue to the Gospel recorded:
"Luke was an Antiochian of Syria, a physician by profession. He was a disciple of the apostles and later accompanied Paul until the latter's martyrdom. He served the Lord without distraction, having neither wife nor children, and at the age of 84 fell asleep in Boeotia, full of the Holy Spirit. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark were already in existence. In his prologue Luke makes this clear but he felt moved to record an account specifically for the Gentile believers so that they would not be deceived by any mixture of Jewish distractions that could cloud the truth. At the beginning Luke relates the nativity of the Baptist - the Lord's forerunner in preparation by the baptism unto repentance. This ministry had been foretold by Malachi. After writing this Gospel, Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles."
About 300 A.D., Eusebuis wrote, "Luke who was by race an Antiochian, and a physician by profession, was a long companion of Paul, and had careful conversation with the other Apostles, and in two books left us examples of the medicine for souls which he had gained from them.
Luke's Sources
He was not an eye-witness of Jesus' life on earth, but he had the best opportunity to talk to and record the witnesses of those who had seen and heard Jesus. He was closely connected with Paul, who also in turn had come in contact with many eyewitnesses of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension (Peter, James, and others).
While in Jerusalem from 57-59 A.D., Luke had ample opportunity to speak to James (Jesus' brother), the elders, and other members of the Palestinian congregations (especially at Caesarea and Jerusalem). As an educated man, he would carefully record all information valuable in getting a full and clear knowledge of everything he could find out from these eyewitnesses.
According to Acts, Luke stayed with Philip the evangelist, traveled with Silas of the Jerusalem church, and was closely associated with Mark. Mark authored the second Gospel and had most likely been eyewitness to some of the later events in Jesus' life. He was known as the close follower of Peter, whose preaching concerning Jesus is generally recognized as the main source of his Gospel.
Luke had been together with Mark during Paul's captivity in Rome (mentioned in Colossians 4:10,14 and Philemon 24).
Though without doubt many eyewitnesses would have written down their knowledge concerning Jesus, it was not until the eyewitnesses, especially the Apostles, began to die that the necessity of recording all that was known about Christ became essential. It is also likely that the Apostles and other early preachers recorded notes of their messages to aid their memory and delivery.
In his own preface, Luke remarks that he had traced the course of all things from the first. He wrote to make certain that Theophilus had the best record of those things concerning Jesus that he had been taught. It has become a precarious assumption of some modern critics, that the art of writing was not widely known and practiced in the time of Jesus. 2 Timothy 4:11,13 gives the careful reader the idea that Paul was then helping Luke in the composing of the third Gospel and/or the Book of Acts.
No certain date has been suggested that can be corroborated within the Gospel or the Acts. It is assumed that the Gospel was written first. Both are generally regarded as being written before 70 A.D.
Luke's writing shows a mastery of the Greek language. In his two books he records with a vocabulary of about 800 words which do not occur anywhere else in the New Testament.
The Gospel Of Luke
Luke 3:1-20 - Preaching of John the Baptist.
As Luke prepares to tell us about the public ministry of Jesus, he gives us a brief account of the public ministry of John, who served to prepare the way for Jesus. He therefore gives only a general outline of John's ministry as the forerunner of the Saviour.
Verses 1, 2. Luke gives us some historical indicators to record the time. Jesus began his ministry about 6 months later. John was told by God to begin in the 15th year of Tiberius - best reckoning that to be 27 A.D. He also mentions that Pilate was procurator of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, Herod's brother Philip the tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias of Abilene.
Approximate dates: Pilate ruled 26 A.D. - 36 A.D., Herod 4 B.C. - 39 A.D., Philip from 4 B.C. - 34 A.D. Lysanias is not known. Luke then mentions the high priesthood - listing 2 names. Annas had been high priest from 6 - 15 A.D. when he was fired by the Roman governor. His son-in-law Caiaphas became high priest but Annas kept a large amount of influence - thus listing these two together showed the actual state of affairs.
Besides the time setting as 27 A.D. - listing all these important people gives a rather dark picture of the situation politically as well as religiously when John and then Jesus began their respective ministries. Much cruelty and corruption was part of Roman rule throughout the empire. The Holy Land was arbitrarily divided up and rulers appointed - most of whom were unscrupulous and immoral. In the religious life Rome had major influence by appointing, then deposing the high priests, if they displeased Roman authority. It was then that God gave word to John to begin.
Verse 3. After over 400 years without a prophet in Israel, John was called. Because part of his mandate was baptism - he was to be near water and most likely was on the banks of the river Jordan in the vicinity of Jericho. He preached the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. He called the people to repent. Those who confessed and desired to change their life were assured that God granted a pardon to them. Baptism was the public sign and seal of that pardon. Baptism is the symbol of the washing away of guilt through forgiveness.
In the past, only the non-Jew was baptized when accepted into the Jewish faith. To baptize those born Jewish was new - thus John became known by this right as "The Baptist". This also suggested that just being born as one of the chosen people was not enough - this was part of John's message.
Verses 4-6. The ministry of John fulfilled prophecy of the Old Testament especially Isaiah. John is the voice calling the people to prepare for the coming of God's Savior. The focus and desires of the people need to change in order to be ready and able to accept the redemption that Jesus was to bring. The crooked selfish ways must be left behind and the straight path followed. The path of righteousness to God leads to salvation.
This was absolutely necessary because the people were spiritually and morally bankrupt. Also John had to reshape their beliefs about the Messiah. Most Jews of those times looked for a Messiah to be political, to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. John had to convince them that their greatest need was not a political solution, but a personal and spiritual deliverance from their own sinfulness. John had to show that this need would be met by God's true Messiah; this was His true mission. The people must be ready and expect Him. Everything prepared - He will surely come and all will see Him. All will make a decision. Not all will accept Him - but there is no middle ground. Those that are prepared He will redeem. Those that aren't are doomed.
T.o.d. Johnston has sinced written about articles on various topics from Alternative Medicine, Religion. The author taught from the Gospel of Luke at on Highway 341 / Johnsonville Hwy in Lake City, South Carolina. Read. T.o.d. Johnston's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
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