INTRODUCTION. Luke. This name an abbreviated form of Lucanus or Lucilius. Not to be confounded with Lucius, mentioned Acts xiii. 1. Name Luke occurs three times in N.T., Col. iv. 14; 2. Tim. iv. 11; Phil. verse 24. Probably in all three the third Evangelist is the person spoken of. Born at Antioch, in Syria, according to Eusebius and Jerome. Not born a Jew, not reckoned by Paul among those "of the circumcision." Uncertain whether he became a Jewish proselyte before his conversion. The date of his conversion to Christianity unknown. His profession, a physician; called by Paul "the beloved physician." Col. iv. 14. A late tradition makes him a painter, of no mean skill. Nicephorus. Supposed by Epiphanius and others to have been one of the seventy disciples. Probably because he only, of the Evangelists records the mission of the Seventy. Thought to have been one of the two who journeyed to Emmaus with the risen Lord. Theophylact. He alone relates the account of this journey, and in so graphic a manner as to warrant the presumption that he was an eye-witness. Especially striking that he should leave the name of one of the disciples unmentioned. A fellow-laborer of Paul; joined him at Troas, and accompanied him to Macedonia. Journeyed as far as Philippi, where we lose him from the society of Paul and Silas. When they were afterwards liberated, and departed thence, Luke remained at Philippi. Passed through Miletus, Tyre, and Cæsarea, to Jerusalem. Probable allusion to Luke as "the brother whose praise is in all the churches." 2. Cor. viii. 18. Appears in company with Paul, in the memorable journey to Rome. Acts xxvii. 1. Remained at his side during his first imprisonment. Continued faithful to the Apostle till he received the crown of martyrdom. Doubtless others were near him; but Luke was the last of his habitual companions who had clung to him. Tradition says that after Paul's death he preached in Dalmatia and Gallia. Much uncertainty as to his age and the manner of his death. Probably suffered martyrdom between A.D. 75, and A.D. 100. Luke and Mark, Evangelists, not Apostles; Matthew and John were both. Luke's gospel written before the Acts of the Apostles. Acts i. 1. Date of authorship probably about A.D. 56 or 58. Place where it was written, uncertain.-Achaia and Boeotia (Jerome); Alexandria (Syriac Version); Rome (Ewald); Macedonia (Hilgenfeld); Asia Minor (Köstlin); Cæsarea (Conybeare and Howson). Never any doubt Luke wrote his gospel in the Greek language. There are peculiarities such as we should expect in the writings of an author like Luke. Traces of his profession apparent. Note description of fever (chap. iv. 38); mention of the healing of the servant's ear (chap. xxii. 51); and falling of "the great drops, as of blood" (chap. xxii. 44). We are plainly not listening to the Galilean fishermen, but to the educated citizen of Antioch, well versed in the literary language of the empire. Composition of his sentences much more studied and elaborate than in Matt. and Mark. The periods more rounded, the words far more numerous, and the idioms more classical. Yet has many Hebraisms, mainly apparent in the hymns and speeches, embodied in the narrative. Indicative of the Hebrew sources, whether oral or written, from which he has been careful to derive his information. Citations from the O.T. show he frequently used the Sept. version. Gospel we now possess unanimously acknowledged as that written by Luke. About A.D. 120 it was in general use and familiarly known. Quoted by Justin Martyr, and the author of the Clementine Homilies. Irenæus says Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome understand the expression "my gospel," used in Rom. ii. 16, of the Gospel of Luke. But the language of Luke's preface forbids the notion of any exclusive influence of Paul. Paul, the Apostle, and Luke, the Evangelist, of the Gentiles. Jesus not mainly presented as the Messiah of Israel, or as the Incarnate His genealogy traced through the great Jewish ancestor up to the parent of mankind. Luke principally records those sayings and acts of our Lord by which God's mercy to the Gentiles is set forth. First sermon recorded is that of Nazareth, where the wide spread of the Gospel beyond the people of Israel is distinctly declared, chap. iv. 18-27. His epitome of the Sermon on the Mount, unlike Matthew's, unmarked by frequent interpretations of Jewish law, and breathes only of universal love. No restriction to race or nation shown by the mission of the Seventy, whose number was typical of the Gentile world. Same principle indicated in the peculiar selection of miracles and parables. Luke alone relates the pardon of "the woman which was a sinner." Luke alone has given the most glorious of all parables, the Prodigal Son. the priest. He alone relates the angelic vision to Zacharias, ministering in t priest's office. He alone describes the sacrificial offerings made for Christ, an infant, the temple. Oftener than the rest he reveals Christ in prayer, and intimates His mediatorial office, as ever living to make intercession for us. Hence the early Fathers represented Luke under the symbol of the sacrificial victim-the calf. Augustine. More fully than the other Evangelists he sets forth the Lord's death as an atonement for the sins of the whole world. Observe also how he notes His tender human sympathy; for instance, in the first parable recorded-The Two Debtors (chap. vii. 41-43), and in that of the Good Samaritan (chap. x. 30-37), and in all the miracles, especially the Raising of the Widow's Son (chap. vii. 11-17). Moreover, he alone records that, when dying, He prayed for His murderers. He alone describes the loving attitude of blessing, in which He parted from His disciples at the time of His Ascension, chap. xxiv. 50-51. Of all the Gospels, that of Luke has the best claims to be considered a history. With peculiar power he exhibits the Lord's conversations, with all the incidents that gave rise to them, the remarks of those who heard them, and the final results, His acute spirit of enquiry collected many notices which either complete or explain the narratives of the other Evangelists. He alone gives the reasons for the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, the history of John the Baptist, the appearance of Moses and Elias on the Mount of Transfiguration, and many other circumstances in the Gospel narrative. The numerous striking reflections with which his gospel is interspersed display the high culture of its composer. Occasionally he manifests profound acquaintance with the constitution of the human mind, for instance" They believed not for joy," chap. xxiv. 41. The preservation of the glorious account of how the Lord turned and looked on Peter, displays the same philosophic insight. He treats the subject of spiritual agencies, and their operation, with much more distinctness than the other Evangelists. His notices of the future state are remarkable for vivid power,-witness the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Viewed in its general character, his gospel is the most complete and systematic account of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. As the four Gospel-trees stand in the midst of the true "Garden of the Soul," this is the most perfect in form. It is emphatically the Gospel of the Redeemer, as the Personification of Divine Love. It provides a rich storehouse of comfort and hope for all who sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death. It is the Gospel which seems to bring heaven nearest to earth. As Luke was a physician, so all his words are medicine for a languishing soul. Jerome. See Lange, Olshausen, Alford, Wordsworth, Prescott, Smith's Dictionary. LUKE. CHAPTER I. 1. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us. Luke and Mark evangelists, not apostles; Matthew and John were both. Luke's Birthplace, Antioch. Eusebius. Jerome. Tradition describes him as a painter of no mean skill. Nicephorus. Supposed to have been one of the seventy disciples. Epiphanius. Thought to have been one of the two who journeyed to Emmaus with the risen Redeemer. Theophylact. A Gentile and Physician. Col. iv. 14. Fellow laborer of Paul. Ph. 24 ver. At Troas, Philippi. Acts xvi. 10. Jerusalem. Rome. Acts xxi. 17, and xxviii. 16. Imprisoned with Paul. 2 Tim. iv. 11. "The brother" probably. 2 Cor. viii. 18. His style purest Greek of the Evangelists. Many Annalists. Honest but uninspired believers. Taken &c. Luke inspired, made no such vain attempt. In order. God of order shown in Nature and Revelation. 1 Cor. xiv. 23. Declaration. Historical Narration, but not in order of time. Surely, &c. Christianity is built upon facts. 1 Cor. xv. 1-8. Had others' labors been complete, Luke had not written. Believed. Assured faith, begets confidence in others. Neither Mark nor Luke, apostles. St. James and Jude, authors of epistles. Doubtful. Tholuck. "Many"Luke includes Mark, Grotius, Including Luke himself, Alford. Apocryphal gospels innumerable. Irenæus. Egyptian gospel, Mill. "Taken, &c." not a failure, Major. Attempted but failed, Theophylact. A rebuke for writing without divine commission, Origen. Michaelis. Happily pursued Lightfoot. "Declarations," family Traditions. "Believed," a thing certain. Wetstein. Completae sunt, Vulg.Lightfoot. Fully persuaded, Rom. iv. 21. Fully known, 2 Tim. iv. 17. Proved by arguments, Theop. Accomplished, Campbell. Performed, Hammond. 2. Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word. They. Apostles were eyewitnesses, evangelists partially. B |