Luke is book 3 of the 27 books of the New Testament and belongs to the Gospels section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- New Testament · Gospels
- Genre
- Gospel: ancient biography and historical narrative
- Author (traditional)
- Luke, a physician and traveling companion of Paul, who also wrote Acts.
- Other views on authorship
- Most scholars agree that one author wrote Luke and Acts; many accept Luke as that author, while others see the attribution as uncertain.
- Date (traditional)
- Around AD 60–62, before Acts, which ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome.
- Other views on dating
- Commonly dated about AD 80–90, after the fall of Jerusalem.
- Chapters
- 24
- Verses
- 1,149
- Reading time
- About 119 minutes (23,880 words in the BSB)
What is Luke about?
Luke is the only Gospel writer who explains his method. He says he investigated everything carefully, drew on eyewitnesses and wrote an orderly account so that his reader could be certain of what he had been taught. The result is the longest book in the New Testament and the first half of a two-volume work completed in Acts.
The story begins in the temple with an elderly priest, Zechariah, and moves to a young woman in Nazareth, Mary. Luke gives the fullest account of the nativity: shepherds, angels and a baby in a manger. Songs of praise from Mary, Zechariah and Simeon celebrate God lifting up the humble.
After his baptism Jesus announces his mission in the synagogue at Nazareth: good news for the poor, freedom for captives and sight for the blind. A long middle section (9:51–19:27) follows Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem and contains many parables found only in Luke, including the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son and the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Gospel ends with the cross, the empty tomb, the walk to Emmaus and Jesus' ascension.
Outline of Luke
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Births and childhood John the Baptist and Jesus announced and born; the boy Jesus in the temple. |
| 3:1–4:13 | Preparation John's ministry, Jesus' baptism, genealogy back to Adam and temptation. |
| 4:14–9:50 | Ministry in Galilee The Nazareth sermon, healings, the twelve chosen, teaching and the transfiguration. |
| 9:51–19:27 | The journey to Jerusalem Parables of mercy, teaching on prayer and wealth, and Zacchaeus. |
| 19:28–21:38 | Jesus in Jerusalem Triumphal entry, temple teaching, debates and warnings about the future. |
| 22–23 | Passion Last Supper, arrest, trials before Pilate and Herod, crucifixion and burial. |
| 24 | Resurrection and ascension The empty tomb, the road to Emmaus, appearances and ascension. |
Key themes
- A Savior for all people. Luke traces Jesus' family line back to Adam, not just Abraham, and stresses good news for the whole world.
- Good news for the poor and outsiders. Shepherds, widows, lepers, Samaritans, tax collectors and women play key roles. Luke shows God lifting up the lowly.
- Seeking the lost. Chapter 15 gathers three parables of lost things — a sheep, a coin and a son — and Jesus says he came to seek and save the lost (19:10).
- Prayer and the Holy Spirit. Luke shows Jesus praying at key moments and promises the Spirit, a thread that continues in Acts.
- Joy. From the angels' announcement to the disciples' worship after the ascension, the Gospel is full of praise and rejoicing.
Key people and places
- Jesus — The Savior of the world.
- Mary — Mother of Jesus, whose song of praise is recorded in chapter 1.
- Zechariah and Elizabeth — Elderly parents of John the Baptist.
- John the Baptist — Prophet who prepares the way.
- Peter — Fisherman called to follow Jesus.
- Mary Magdalene and the women disciples — Support Jesus' ministry and witness the resurrection.
- Zacchaeus — Tax collector transformed by meeting Jesus.
Places: Jerusalem and the temple, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Galilee, Samaria, Jericho, Emmaus, Bethany.
Key verses in Luke
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!”
““The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.”
How Luke fits the big story
Luke ties the story of Jesus to world history, naming emperors and governors, and to Israel's story, beginning and ending in the Jerusalem temple. Its opening echoes the Old Testament: an elderly childless couple recalls Abraham and Sarah, and Mary's song recalls Hannah's in 1 Samuel. On the road to Emmaus the risen Jesus explains how Moses and the Prophets spoke of him. Luke shares much with Matthew and Mark but adds about a third of unique material. Its sequel, Acts, opens with the same ascension and follows the Spirit-filled church from Jerusalem to Rome, under the leadership of Peter and then Paul, Luke's traveling companion.
How to read Luke
At 2 chapters a day you can read Luke in 12 days. Read Luke 15 as a single unit — three stories, one point. Then read Luke and Acts back to back as one two-part work.