Luke.

Luke invites us to know Jesus with confidence. He tells a story filled with encounters: people who wait for God's help, people pushed to the edges of their communities, people sure of their own goodness, and disciples learning to follow. Through these meetings we discover both the mercy of Jesus and the response he asks of those who receive him.

This is a Gospel, an account of the good news through Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection. Its story begins before his birth and ends with his followers worshiping him and awaiting the power to bear witness. It also prepares us for Acts, where the message goes out from Jerusalem.

Why this account was written

Read Luke 1:1–4. The writer describes following the events closely and drawing on testimony handed down by eyewitnesses. He offers an orderly account to Theophilus so that this reader may have certainty about what he has been taught. Christian trust is connected here with a report of what God has done in history.

The Gospel does not name its author within the narrative. Early Christian tradition identifies him as Luke, a companion of Paul. The connection with Acts is especially clear when we read Acts 1:1–3: it addresses Theophilus again and refers back to the earlier account of Jesus. BibleProject's overview presents the two books as a connected work and explains the traditional attribution.¹

Theophilus is directly addressed, but the Gospel's message reaches beyond one recipient. We do not need to settle his precise identity before hearing the writer's stated purpose. Read with the expectation that careful attention to Jesus can deepen informed, personal trust.

Mercy rooted in God's promises

The opening chapters place Jesus within Israel's story. Promises to Abraham and David, prophetic expectation, temple worship, and the work of the Holy Spirit give the reader a setting for understanding his arrival. The shared Fulfillment of Scripture and Messiah Foundations explain these recurring connections.

As Jesus' ministry begins, Luke 4:16–21 announces good news for the poor, freedom, and the Lord's favor through the words of Isaiah. Watch how this announcement takes shape in his teaching, healing, forgiveness, and welcome. Luke pays attention to bodily need and social exclusion as well as sin and the need for repentance.

A short statement later in the story helps us hold these encounters together. In Luke 19:10, Jesus describes his coming in terms of seeking and saving the lost. Mercy reaches people others may dismiss. It also challenges pride, attachment to wealth, and the refusal to turn toward God. Receiving Jesus changes how people live with their neighbors.

The movement of the whole book

The beginning, chapters 1–2: The announcements and births of John and Jesus introduce God's promised rescue. Songs of praise interpret these events through mercy, covenant, and hope.

Preparation and ministry, chapters 3 into 9: John calls people to repentance. Jesus is baptized, tested, and begins teaching and acting with authority. Followers are called, opposition grows, and questions about his identity become unavoidable.

The journey toward Jerusalem, chapters 9 into 19: At Luke 9:51, Jesus deliberately turns toward Jerusalem. The long journey gives space to teaching about prayer, mercy, possessions, repentance, and the cost of following him. Listen to the parables within the conversations and disputes that prompt them.

Jerusalem, suffering, and resurrection, chapters 19–24: Jesus enters the city, teaches, faces rejection, and gives himself in death. His resurrection leads to recognition, opened understanding of Scripture, and a commission. BibleProject's guide provides a helpful account of this broad movement.²

In Luke 24:44–49, the risen Jesus connects his suffering and resurrection with Scripture and sends his witnesses toward the nations with a message of repentance and forgiveness. The shared Resurrection and Witness and Mission Foundations help explain that ending and its continuation in Acts.

A practical way to begin

Start with Luke 1 in the ESV. Read the scenes in order, noticing who speaks, what is promised, and how people respond. Use the chapter Deep Dive to understand difficult phrases and the short Wisdom companion to consider one faithful response.

As you continue, watch Jesus closely. Notice whom he welcomes, what he confronts, and how his journey leads toward the cross and resurrection. Luke's purpose is to help us know the Savior with confidence and learn to receive his mercy with a willing heart.

Sources Consulted