Studying the Bible -- What is the Book of Luke About?

The book of Luke is the third of the four gospels. The gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--tell the story of Jesus’ life. They do not contain everything that Jesus did or said (John 20:30-31; 21:25). They do tell us enough to teach us about Jesus, develop our faith, and learn how to live.

The book of Luke is actually an epistle written to a man named Theophilus. He followed this epistle with another epistle, the book of Acts. The book of Luke is the only gospel that claims to be an orderly, or chronological, account, gathered from eyewitness testimony (Luke 1:1-4). Luke has over 500 verses not contained in the other gospels. Luke traces the life of Jesus from His unusual birth, to His ascension back to the Father. The ascension story is retold at the beginning of the book of Acts.


References: (King James version)

John 20:30-31   "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

John 21:25   "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

Luke 1:1-4   "Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."