Luke

Luke is the forty-second book of the Bible and the longest of the four gospels. It is traditionally attributed to Luke, a physician and companion of Paul who also wrote the book of Acts. Luke is the only Gentile author in the New Testament. The book is generally dated to the 60s or 80s AD and is addressed to a person called Theophilus.

Luke opens with the most detailed birth narratives in any gospel. He describes the angel's announcements to Zechariah and Mary, the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, the visit of the shepherds, the family's trip to the temple, and a scene of Jesus as a twelve-year-old discussing scripture with the teachers. Then comes John the Baptist's ministry and Jesus's baptism.

The body of the book follows Jesus's ministry, with a long central section on his journey to Jerusalem. Luke records parables not found in other gospels: the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the rich man and Lazarus, the persistent widow. He pays particular attention to people on the margins (women, the poor, tax collectors, foreigners) and to Jesus's interactions with them.

The final chapters cover the last week in Jerusalem, the trial, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. Luke's account of the resurrection includes the walk to Emmaus, where two disciples meet the risen Jesus without recognizing him at first. The book ends with Jesus's ascension into heaven from a mountain outside Jerusalem.