College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Luke 1 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter One
THE GOSPEL OF THE SON OF MAN
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
If others had already been compiling narratives of the life of Jesus, why did Luke feel it necessary for him to do so too (Luke 1:1-4)?
2.
Why did God need to precede the birth of the Messiah with a forerunner (Luke 1:17)?
3.
Why was Mary upset with the announcement from the angel about Jesus-' birth (Luke 1:29)?
4.
Should Mary be venerated in some special way because she was the mother of our Lord (Luke 1:42)?
5.
Why was it so important to name the forerunner John (Luke 1:60)?
6.
Who are the enemies the Messiah's people are to be saved from (Luke 1:71)?
7.
Isn-'t it rather strange to let the child John grow up all by himself in the wilderness (Luke 1:80)?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER ONE
Outline
A.
Luke writes to Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4).
1.
Why he is writing this story of Jesus (Luke 1:1-3 a).
a)
Many had undertaken to write about the things that had been accomplished among them.
b)
Those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word had reported these things to Luke.
2.
His qualifications to undertake the task (Luke 1:3 b).
a)
He had followed the reports with care.
b)
He had gone back to the beginning of the story.
3.
The nature of the account he is writing (Luke 1:3 c - Luke 1:4).
a)
He planned to write a connected account of these things.
b)
He did so in order that Theophilus might know about the unshakable evidence that firmly supports the things about which he had been instructed.
B.
He began by telling about the promised birth of John (Luke 1:5-25).
1.
The angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias bringing him this message. (Luke 1:5-12).
a)
It was in the time of Herod the Great.
b)
Zacharias was a priest, and his wife whose name was Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
c)
They were righteous people keeping all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
d)
They were childless elderly people.
e)
Zacharias was preparing to burn incense in the temple, and the people were outside praying.
f)
Zacharias became frightened when he saw the angel of the Lord standing by the right side of the altar.
2.
The angel told Zacharias about the child (Luke 1:13-17).
a)
His prayer had been heard; Elizabeth was to bear a son whose name was to be John.
b)
Rejoicing would occur at his birth, for he was to be dedicated to the Lord from his birth.
c)
His mission was to turn many to the Lord; he was to go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah.
3.
The angel gave Zacharias a sign that this would happen (Luke 1:18-22).
a)
Zacharias asked how he would know this.
b)
Gabriel said he would be unable to speak until the child was born.
c)
As he came out of the temple, the people became aware of his having seen a vision.
4.
Zacharias and Elizabeth returned home to await the coming of the child (Luke 1:23-25).
C.
He told about the angel informing Mary that she was to bear a son and call his name Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
1.
The angel was sent from God to inform Mary (Luke 1:26-29).
a)
He was sent to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.
b)
Mary was a virgin betrothed to Joseph of the family of David.
c)
He told Mary that she was highly favored of the Lord.
d)
Mary wondered what this might mean.
2.
The angel explained to Mary how the Lord would accomplish this.
a)
Mary had found favor with God and was to conceive and bear a son and call his name JESUS.
b)
He explained about the child.
(1)
He was to be great and to be called the Son of the Most High.
(2)
The Lord God would give him the throne of his father David.
(3)
He was to reign over the house of Jacob forever; there would be no end to his kingdom.
c)
He explained how this was to be accomplished.
(1)
Mary asked how it could be since she did not know a man.
(2)
The Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High would accomplish it.
(3)
Because of this miracle of conception, the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
(4)
Elizabeth also was soon to bear a son for no word from God shall be void of power.
(5)
Mary responded: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
D.
He told about Mary's visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-40).
1.
She went in haste to the hill country to a city of Judah and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-40).
2.
Elizabeth responded in inspired words of praise (Luke 1:41-45).
a)
Her unborn babe leaped, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).
b)
What she said to Mary (Luke 1:42-45).
(1)
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
(2)
She asked, Why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(3)
She told Mary that her own unborn babe had leaped for joy when Mary greeted her.
(4)
She praised Mary for believing the promise of the Lord, for He would fulfill it.
3.
Mary's song of praise to God (Luke 1:46-55).
a)
She praised God for blessing her in her humble estate.
b)
She spoke of the might and holiness and mercy of God.
c)
She told how He had put down the proud and exalted the humble.
d)
She spoke of His help to Israel and His remembrance of His covenant with Abraham.
4.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months and then returned to her home (Luke 1:56).
E.
He told about the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80).
1.
Elizabeth gave birth to a son; her neighbors and relatives rejoiced with her (Luke 1:57-58).
2.
Her child was named at the time of his circumcision (Luke 1:59-63).
a)
Some wanted him to be called Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth said, He shall be called John.
b)
The relatives protested and appealed to Zacharias. He wrote, His name is John.
c)
All marvelled at this, but Zacharias was now able to speak after the period of silence imposed on him by the Lord.
d)
The people throughout the hill country of Judea heard about the child and said, What then shall this child be?
3.
Zacharias prophesied under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:67-79).
a)
What God had done in the house of David (Luke 1:67-75).
(1)
Redemption, salvation, and mercy had been shown to His people.
(2)
He had remembered His covenant and promise to Abraham.
b)
What the childJohn the Baptistwas to do (Luke 1:76-79).
(1)
As the prophet of the Most High, he was to go before the face of the Lord to make ready His ways and give knowledge of salvation and remission of sins to the people (Luke 1:76-77).
(2)
The mercy of God as shown in Christ was to guide those in darkness into the ways of peace (Luke 1:78-79).
4.
The child grew and became strong in spirit and lived in the deserts until the beginning of his ministry to Israel (Luke 1:80).
Summary
Luke was ready to write to Theophilus. His papyrus roll was on his writing table. Before him were the records of his investigation into the thrilling story of Jesus the Son of God and the Son of Man. Perhaps Mark's Gospel and maybe Matthew's too were there before him. He was eager to write the whole story, for he was convinced that it would give Theophilus the confidence he needed in these things in which he had already been instructed.
As he thought of all the things that might be written and looked at the one papyrus roll, he knew that it would never hold all that he wanted to say. He would have to write a second letter to Theophilus, but just now he would tell about all the things that Jesus began both to do and to teach and bring the story to a climax with the account of His crucifixion, the evidence of His resurrection, and the story of His ascension that took place just after He had told His disciples to preach the gospel to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. In the second letter he would tell how the apostles preached the gospel of Christ in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and finally how Paul and his companions of whom Luke was one brought the gospel to Rome.
His first problem was to determine the point at which to begin. He probably knew how Mark had plunged into the story of the ministry of Jesus without telling about the birth of John or the birth and childhood of Jesus. He may have known that Matthew began with the birth record of Jesus Christ the son of David and the son of Abraham. But as he thought of Theophilus, who like himself was a Greek, he decided to begin at the first of the story and tell about the birth of John and the birth of Jesus who, as he had become thoroughly convinced, was the Son of God and the Son of Man.
Theophilus would need to be fully assured that the birth of Jesus was the result of a miraculous conception. He made his point clear with the presentation of the facts about which he had made careful investigation. And to make this even clearer, he told about the birth of John. John's parents were a childless elderly couple, but God showed His mercy toward them and sent the angel to tell Zacharias that Elizabeth was to bear a son and that he was to name him John. But Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, The angel told her that although she knew no man, she would conceive and bear a Son and name Him Jesus. The power of God exercised by the Holy Spirit would accomplish this. For that reason, the child would be called the Son of God.
Luke wanted Theophilus to be able to read the words of praise spoken by Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, as she thought of God's mercy toward her and toward His people. Her words magnified the Lord. He also told about the words spoken by Zacharias the father of John. He praised God for His tender mercy and for the light that was to shine upon those who sat in darkness waiting for the new day.
Questions
1.
Why did Luke undertake the task of writing the Life of Christ?
2.
How did he prepare for the task?
3.
What was his aim in writing?
4.
Who was Theophilus?
5.
At what point did he begin his record of the Life of Christ?
6.
Who was Herod?
7.
What did Luke say about Zacharias and Elizabeth?
8.
What was Zacharias doing when the angel appeared to him?
9.
What did the angel say about the mission of John?
10.
What is meant by the spirit and power of Elijah?
11.
What effect would John's message have on the fathers?
12.
What happened to Zacharias as a sign by which he knew that the promise of the angel would be fulfilled?
13.
What evidence does Luke present to show his conviction that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary as the result of a miraculous conception?
14.
What was Mary's relation, at the time of the angel's announcement, to Joseph?
15.
Why, when, and how did Jesus receive the throne of David?
16.
What was said about the duration of His kingdom?
17.
Why was Jesus called the Son of God?
18.
Where did Zacharias and Elizabeth live?
19.
What did Luke mean when he said that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit?
20.
Why was Mary to be called blessed among women?
21.
What did Luke say about Mary's response to the announcement of the angel?
22.
What promise made to Abraham was fulfilled by the coming of Jesus?
23.
How does Luke carefully distinguish between the facts about the birth of John and the facts about the birth of Jesus?
24.
What did the people say when they learned about the birth of John?
25.
How is their question answered by the words spoken by Zacharias as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit?
26.
What is known about John from the time of his birth to the time of his appearing as a prophet to Israel?