Introduction
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today marks the beginning of our Bible study journey, with the Gospel of Luke as our chosen starting point. This post serves as an introduction to the book of Luke, shedding light on the author, Luke, and the purpose behind the Gospel.
Luke, a physician and a companion of the apostle Paul, was tasked with creating two critical documents for the Roman authorities. The first document aimed to provide an account of Jesus of Nazareth, a man prophesied in the Old Testament, who commenced his ministry at the age of 30, preached for three years, and was crucified at the age of 33. Throughout those three years, Jesus gathered disciples who continued his work, even after his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
One notable convert to Jesus' teachings was Paul, who, despite not encountering Jesus during His earthly ministry, had a life-changing experience while serving as a soldier. Paul embraced Christianity, becoming a fervent disciple who preached the gospel. However, the religious authorities, including temple priests and scribes, vehemently opposed this message. They were same people who were instrumental in orchestrating Jesus' crucifixion.
Following Jesus' death, his disciples, including Peter, James, and John, faced persecution and attempts to stifle their gospel preaching. In this tumultuous period, a new figure emerged - Paul. His ministry started prompting further opposition from the established order. This led Paul to make a significant decision to shift his focus to sharing the gospel among the Gentiles, with Antioch as his headquarters.
The Jewish authorities sent representatives to disrupt Paul's mission, resulting in a challenging and tumultuous life for him. When Paul visited Jerusalem, a city where Jewish influence was at its zenith, they caused so much trouble that he was arrested and imprisoned.
However, the Jewish leaders overlooked a crucial detail: Paul was not only an Israelite by race but also a Roman citizen by birth, a privilege passed down through his ancestry. This citizenship granted him legal protection. As tensions escalated and a plot against Paul's life emerged, he appealed to the Roman governor, requesting that his case be tried before the Emperor's court, a right granted to Roman citizens.
The governor, with no alternative, obliged and sent Paul to Rome under strict security. However, once in Rome, the specific charges against him remained unclear, necessitating a comprehensive report on both Jesus and Paul's activities. Historically, this task led them to Luke, a trusted associate of Paul, a learned physician who was well-acquainted with Paul's work.
Luke meticulously researched the historical accounts of Jesus and created the document we now know as the Gospel According to Luke. He also composed another document, the Acts of the Apostles, which documented the activities of the apostles and Paul's journeys and teachings.
This provides the backstory to the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel opens with Luke addressing an individual named Theophilus addressed as 'most excellent.' While Theophilus remains somewhat enigmatic, some reports suggest he may have entrusted Luke with the task of documentation.
In our next post, we will delve into the Gospel itself, starting with the first chapter.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ."
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today marks the beginning of our Bible study journey, with the Gospel of Luke as our chosen starting point. This post serves as an introduction to the book of Luke, shedding light on the author, Luke, and the purpose behind the Gospel.
Luke, a physician and a companion of the apostle Paul, was tasked with creating two critical documents for the Roman authorities. The first document aimed to provide an account of Jesus of Nazareth, a man prophesied in the Old Testament, who commenced his ministry at the age of 30, preached for three years, and was crucified at the age of 33. Throughout those three years, Jesus gathered disciples who continued his work, even after his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
One notable convert to Jesus' teachings was Paul, who, despite not encountering Jesus during His earthly ministry, had a life-changing experience while serving as a soldier. Paul embraced Christianity, becoming a fervent disciple who preached the gospel. However, the religious authorities, including temple priests and scribes, vehemently opposed this message. They were same people who were instrumental in orchestrating Jesus' crucifixion.
Following Jesus' death, his disciples, including Peter, James, and John, faced persecution and attempts to stifle their gospel preaching. In this tumultuous period, a new figure emerged - Paul. His ministry started prompting further opposition from the established order. This led Paul to make a significant decision to shift his focus to sharing the gospel among the Gentiles, with Antioch as his headquarters.
The Jewish authorities sent representatives to disrupt Paul's mission, resulting in a challenging and tumultuous life for him. When Paul visited Jerusalem, a city where Jewish influence was at its zenith, they caused so much trouble that he was arrested and imprisoned.
However, the Jewish leaders overlooked a crucial detail: Paul was not only an Israelite by race but also a Roman citizen by birth, a privilege passed down through his ancestry. This citizenship granted him legal protection. As tensions escalated and a plot against Paul's life emerged, he appealed to the Roman governor, requesting that his case be tried before the Emperor's court, a right granted to Roman citizens.
The governor, with no alternative, obliged and sent Paul to Rome under strict security. However, once in Rome, the specific charges against him remained unclear, necessitating a comprehensive report on both Jesus and Paul's activities. Historically, this task led them to Luke, a trusted associate of Paul, a learned physician who was well-acquainted with Paul's work.
Luke meticulously researched the historical accounts of Jesus and created the document we now know as the Gospel According to Luke. He also composed another document, the Acts of the Apostles, which documented the activities of the apostles and Paul's journeys and teachings.
This provides the backstory to the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel opens with Luke addressing an individual named Theophilus addressed as 'most excellent.' While Theophilus remains somewhat enigmatic, some reports suggest he may have entrusted Luke with the task of documentation.
In our next post, we will delve into the Gospel itself, starting with the first chapter.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ."
