Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.What we find there, and must remember throughout the book, is that it was written by Luke, to a friend, to help him in his young faith.
There are many other unique features to Luke, which make this book rather special:
- Luke is the only book of the Bible known to be written by a Gentile.
- Luke was a Greek doctor.
- Luke cared about detail, but also about people. Much of the middle part of Luke (chs. 9-18) isn't found anywhere else in the Bible.
Luke is often the Gospel I go to if I want detail, and that is what he presents. Remember Mark, how he was also several miracles in by the end of chapter 1, and Matthew, sweeping through thousands of years of history as a short introduction.
By contrast, Luke is slow and steady, setting the scene with the promise and birth of John the Baptist in a story that mirrors the birth of Isaac rather well.
Also returning from last week's reading in Daniel (although now 500 years have passed) is the Angel Gabriel, bringing an important message from God.
Luke's epic first chapter takes up 80 verses, and leaves us teetering on the brink of the census being announced. By 80 verses of Mark, Jesus is about to pick the 12 disciples!
Luke is a book you'll hear a lot of at Christmas, because of Luke's telling of the Christmas story. If you don't have time to read it all, perhaps you could read the first two chapters and really meditate on that story - revel in the length and detail Luke gives us about those amazing events over 2000 years ago.
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