Claims to fame: Luke is a physician and Greek-trained historian who lives in Troas, he writes the longest gospel, which bears his name to this day. We know that Luke traveled with the Apostle Paul throughout the Mediterranean.
Luke writes a second volume known as “The Acts of the Apostles,” writing more New Testament verses and words than anyone else — altogether, Luke writes 27.5% of the whole New Testament. Luke may also be the only Gentile contributor to the New Testament.
Luke’s First Book
This third gospel challenges us to take the time to more carefully consider Jesus’ life, ministry, teachings, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
As an associate of the Apostle Paul, Dr. Luke had the opportunity to travel widely and interview many of those most closely associated with Jesus.
He even won the confidence of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and reports far more about Jesus’ birth and childhood than all the other gospel writers combined.
Many of Luke’s original readers, like Luke himself, were Gentiles. With that audience in mind, Luke gives special emphasis to poetry, prayers, poverty and wealth, repentance, and women.
There are very famous passages in this gospel, which include the Christmas story (Luke 1:26-2:39), Jesus’ childhood (Luke 2:40-52), the violent reaction to Jesus’ first sermon in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30), Peter’s response to Jesus’ sermon on the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1-11), and the Beatitudes and sorrows (Luke 6:20-26).
Other important passages include Jesus raising a widow’s son from the dead (Luke 7:11-17) and a group of women joining Jesus’ ministry team (Luke 8:2-3) — Luke amplifies the account of Jesus’ transfiguration (Luke 9:28-37), James and John want to order down fire from heaven (Luke 9:51-56), and Jesus sends out 72 disciples (Luke 10:1-24).
More important passages include the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-13), the account of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-19) — Luke amplifies the account of the Last Supper (Luke 22:7-20), and Jesus appears to two disciples from Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
Luke’s Second Book
This fifth New Testament book, “The Acts of the Apostles,” records how the Church starts and spreads throughout the Roman empire.
In many ways, this book provides a natural bridge between the four gospels and the letters by Paul (and others) that follow.
Luke’s account of the Early Church begins in Jerusalem, where Jesus’ followers wait, just as He instructed before His ascension (Acts 1). About 10 days after His departure, the Holy Spirit fills the believers (Acts 2:1-13), who proclaim the Good News throughout the city (Acts 2:14-7:60).
When persecution breaks out, most Christians scatter throughout Judea and neighboring regions, where they lead other Jews and even Samaritans to faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:1-9:42). Then Peter receives a vision from the Lord and proclaims the Good News to Gentiles as well (Acts 10:1-11:18).
The evangelization of Gentiles continues throughout neighboring countries, including the establishment of a vibrant church in the city of Syrian Antioch (Acts 11:19-12:25).
From Syrian Antioch, Paul and others go out on several Christian missionary journeys to other parts of the Roman empire (Acts 13:1-21:16).
While in Jerusalem, near the end of his third missionary journey, Paul is arrested and is eventually taken to Rome. Along the way, he has the opportunity to proclaim the Good News to many top Roman government officials. Luke’s account ends with Paul still under house arrest, awaiting trial (Acts 21:17-28:31).
Along with Peter’s first evangelistic sermon (Acts 2:14-40), Acts includes some very famous verses:
Tell “people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NLT).
Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages (Acts 2:4, NLT).
They “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” (Acts 2:42, NLT).
And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved (Acts 2:47, NLT).
Important passages also include Peter’s second evangelistic sermon (Acts 3:12-26), the story of Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-19; Acts 22:1-16, Acts 26:9-19), and Peter’s miraculous escape from prison (Acts 12:3-19).
There is salvation in no one else [besides Jesus]. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12, NLT).
Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him (Acts 4:19, NLT; Acts 5:29).
More important passages include Paul's stoning (Acts 14:19-20), the First Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-21), Paul's call from Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10), Paul and Silas' imprisonment (Acts 16:16-40), and Paul's sermon in Athens (Acts 17:16-34).
More important passages include Paul escaping a riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-20:1), Paul meeting with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:15-38), Paul is arrested during a riot in Jerusalem (Acts 21:26-36), and Paul is under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16-31).
Scriptures about Luke
Take a minute to read the introductions to Luke’s two books in Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-5. Then take a few more minutes to read about his travels with Paul (“we”) in Acts 16:10–17, Acts 20:5–15, Acts 21:1–18, and Acts 27:1–28:16.
Paul expresses his great appreciation for Luke in Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:11, and Philemon 1:24.
For further reading:
The Apostles' Healing in the Book of Acts: Bible Verses and Meaning
What Is the Harmony of the Gospels?
Do the Narratives of Jesus’ Birth Contradict Each Other?
What Is the Significance of the Road to Emmaus?
Why Did Paul Compare Christianity to Greek Mythology?
How Did Jesus Treat Women in the Bible?
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