Luke's prologue establishes his historiographical method of careful investigation and orderly account dedicated to Theophilus, followed by the angel Gabriel's annunciation to the elderly priest Zechariah concerning the miraculous birth of John the Baptist despite Elizabeth's barrenness. Gabriel subsequently visits the virgin Mary in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of the Most High who will reign on David's throne forever, to which Mary responds with humble submission. Mary visits Elizabeth whose baby leaps in the womb, Elizabeth's Spirit-filled blessing prompts Mary's Magnificat praising God's reversal of the proud and mighty, and Zechariah's tongue is loosed at John's naming and circumcision, prophesying in the Benedictus about salvation through David's horn and his son's role as the prophet of the Most High preparing the Lord's way.
Read Luke Chapter 1 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
The Savior of all humanity
Virgin mother who treasured God's words in her heart
Physician and careful historian
King of Judea
First High Priest
Nephew of Abraham
Author of the Gospel of Mark
The One Who Buried Jesus
King of Israel
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Father of Many Nations
Places in This Chapter
The Temple in Jerusalem was the permanent house of worship built by Solomon on Mount Moriah. Destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later greatly expanded by Herod. Jesus taught in the Temple courts, cleared it of merchants, and predicted its destruction, which occurred in 70 AD.
Galilee was a region in northern Israel where Jesus grew up and conducted much of His ministry. Jesus called His first disciples here, performed many miracles, and taught large crowds. After His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples in Galilee and commissioned them to make disciples of all nations.
Nazareth is the town in Galilee where Jesus grew up and spent most of his life before his public ministry. It was a small, obscure village in ancient times, which led Nathanael to ask "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary here to announce she would give birth to the Son of God. Jesus was known as "Jesus of Nazareth" throughout his ministry.
Position in Book
Annunciations, births of John and Jesus, presentation.
Bible Bites
Luke Wrote for Gentiles
Luke is the only Gentile author in the New Testament. A physician by profession, he wrote his Gospel and Acts specifically for a Gentile audience, tracing Jesus' genealogy all the way back to Adam, father of all humanity.
Luke