Gospel of Luke Acts of the Apostles: Jesus the Savior

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Gospel of Luke Acts of
the Apostles Jesus the Savior
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Background
- Luke was a Gentile-Christian - Responsible for
writing the gospel with the most words and its
sequel (Acts of the Apostles) Together make up
more than a quarter of the New
Testament -Style, language, and organization of
the Gospel and Acts are very similar Both
works addressed to Theophilus
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Background
Do we really know the author? - Identified
as St. Pauls coworker from Antioch Remained
Pauls friend Probably used a travel diary to
construct some of the history of Acts The
prologue mentions Luke was from Antioch in
Syria and died in Greece -Certain that
he did not know the historical Jesus in person
and did not come from the Holy Land
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Background
- Author of Luke was a brilliant artist with
words Wrote beautiful polished Greek - Wrote
for Gentile Christian churches - Major Theme
Universality of Jesus offer of salvation -
Gospel intended for everyone Gentiles do not
have to convert to Judaism to accept Jesus
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Background
Three main sources for writing 1.) Marks
Gospel
2.) Q common source

3.) L unique source
MARK
MATTHEW
LUKE
M
L
Q
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Background
The prologue provides solid information on
Why the gospel was written What it is about
How the author went about writing it
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Background
-Special Lucan material included Early
hymns Finding of Jesus at the Temple
Genealogy Collection of parables Group of
miracle stories
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Background
- Luke dedicated his gospel to Theophilus


Name means lover of God
Name helps prove the unity of Lukes two-volume
work
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Background
- In his opening gospel address to Theophilus,
Luke states his reasons for writing
He wants to show Theophilus and all readers
that the instruction in the Christian faith was
sound.
His purpose in writing the Gospel was the
strengthen their faith
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Common Themes
Common themes in Luke and Acts 1.) Jesus as a
prophet 2.) The Church continues Jesus
prophetic ministry 3.) The role of the Holy
Spirit in salvation history 4.) Prayer, joy,
peace 5.) The special role of Mary and women
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Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 414-44 - Jesus
reveals that through him, the prophesy about the
Messiah is taking place Gods kingdom is
present What Isaiah prophesized is
happening right now
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Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 414-44
Jesus outlines his ministry
Preach the gospel Help people live freely
Perform acts of mercy Work for justice
Celebrate Gods presence in the world
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Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 414-44 -The scene at
Nazareth foreshadows Jesus public life Met
with initial acceptance, however, people
change their opinion and reject and kill
the innocent prophet in Jerusalem
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Common Themes
1.) Jesus the Prophet - Lk 414-44 - The
synagogue scene underscores two other themes that
appear in Luke and Acts

The role of the Holy Spirit
The
importance of prayer in the life of Jesus and
of the early Church
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Common Themes
2.) Church Continues Jesus Prophetic Mission
Acts 1-2
-Luke depicts the characteristics of an ideal
Christian community Christian fellowship or
communion Praying for each other Gospel
truth as handed on by the apostolic
eyewitnesses
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Common Themes
3.) Role of the Holy Spirit - Stresses the vital
role of the Holy Spirit in salvation history -
Luke viewed history in three dramatic stages
Stage 1 - Age of Promise Stage 2 - The Times
of Jesus Stage 3 - The Age of the
Church -Holy Spirit appears frequently in Luke
and Acts
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Common Themes
4.) Prayer - A pervasive theme in Luke and Acts -
Jesus prayed
At His Baptism
In the Synagogue
In lonely places
At His Transfiguration
Hanging on the Cross
The night before choosing the Apostles
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Common Themes
4.) Prayer -Message to be learned is that we
should pray as often as the Master did -Acts of
the Apostles shows how the early Church heeded
this advice well
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Common Themes
4.) Joy and Peace -Themes are evident from the
opening verses of the gospel Often connected
with prayer -Message of several of his parables
also highlighted the theme of great joy over
the return of lost sinners -Key event in Jesus
life that results in joy Entry into Jerusalem
during Holy Week -Most joyous occasion is his
resurrection
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Common Themes
5.) Special Role of Mary and Women - Women were
considered inferior to men - Jesus attitude
toward women was positive and revolutionary
He included women as the central characters
in two of His parables (the Lost Coin and the
Unjust Judge) - Most significant was the women
who witnessed his death and resurrection - Mary
illustrated a major Lucan theme - Gods
preferential love for the poor
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Messiah Savior
- In Lukes gospel, Jesus is a compassionate
Messiah who has come to prove Gods great
love - Makes Jesus the friend of the
friendless Shepherds, usually considered
outcasts, were the first to visit Jesus
birth Offering of the poor Presentation
in the Temple
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Messiah Savior
- More than the other three gospels Luke
reassures the poor and warns the rich - God
blesses the poor - not only those socially
disadvantaged but also those that recognize
they are nothing without God - Challenges the
rich to repent before it is too late
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Messiah Savior
-Lukes is the only Gospel that records the
story of Lazarus and the rich man -Lazarus
means May God help or The one whom God
helps -Jesus is warning that those who have
plenty in this life must share with those who
have less
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Messiah Savior
- Luke reports Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus, a
tax collector Jesus was enacting a living
parable of Gods love for sinners Jesus
compassion also extended to outcasts Love of
Enemies - Gods love and compassion knew no
bounds - nor should ours Parable of the Good
Samaritan Our neighbor is everyone
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Messiah Savior
- Lukes Chapter 15 is the very heart of the
gospel - Contains three memorable parables that
deal with Gods great compassion and his joy over
repentant sinners 1.) The parable of the lost
sheep 2.) The parable of the lost coin 3.) The
parable of the lost or prodigal son
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Messiah Savior
-Most common title of Luke for Jesus is
Lord -Luke presented Jesus as a martyr
witness Jesus death is a witness, and
example for all for how consistent, loving,
faithful, and compassionate he is -Concludes
his gospel with the resurrection appearances -
Emmaus story summarized entire gospel
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Overview of Acts
- Chapter 2 of Acts reports The coming of the
Holy Spirit Outpouring of gifts Peters
kerygmatic sermon Pentecost Sunday Ideal
characteristics of the earliest church
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Overview of Acts
-Second major section shows how Philip preached
the good news to the Samaritans -Shifts to
Peter who preached in Joppa and Lydda, performed
miracles, and had important visions -King Herod
began persecuting Christians -Paul and Barnabus
began their first missionary journey