Luke 1 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

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LUKE 1 IN 5 MINUTES

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE:

• Gospel means “good news.”

• Luke the author of this book wrote it to record the good news about Jesus.

• Luke was a travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.

• He was a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and may have been a Gentile (Colossians 4:10-14).

• Luke wrote more of the New Testament than any other author (based on word count).

• He wrote the book of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

• Luke’s gospel is addressed to a man named Theophilus who may have been a Roman official.

• He wrote to him to give him confidence about the details of the Christian faith.

• Some believe Luke’s writings were used as part of Paul’s legal defense during his trial in Rome.

• The book records events which occurred in the 1st Century A.D..

WHEN:

• The events of chapter 1 occurred around 1 A.D..

• Herod the Great was king of Judea and Augustus was Caesar in Rome.

CHARACTERS:

• Zechariah - A Jewish priest from the tribe of Levi, described as a righteous man.

• Elizabeth - The wife of Zechariah also a Levite, described as a righteous woman.

• John - Zechariah and Elizabeth’s newborn son.

• Mary - A young woman from the town of Nazareth. She was a virgin betrothed to be married.

• Joseph - Mary’s betrothed husband (similar to a fiancé).

• Gabriel - An angel who was sent from the presence of God to bring good news.

WHERE:

• The events of chapter 1 take place in Nazareth, in the hill country of Judea, and the city of Jerusalem.

OUTLINE:

• INTRODUCTION (1:1-1:4):

• JOHN’S BIRTH FORETOLD (1:5-1:25):

  • Zechariah is serving God in the Temple in Jerusalem when an angel appears to him.

  • The angel tells him he and his wife will have a son who will be a prophet of God.

  • Not just any prophet, he will be the prophet who prepares the way for the Messiah.

  • This was big news because Elizabeth had been barren and she was getting old.

  • Zechariah isn’t confident about the angel’s promise and expresses doubts.

  • The angel isn’t pleased, and makes Zechariah mute until his words become reality.

  • After finishing his work in the Temple, Zechariah returns home to his wife and she conceives.

• JESUS’ BIRTH FORETOLD (1:26-1:38):

  • 6 months later, Gabriel makes another appearance, this time to a girl from Nazareth named Mary.

  • Mary is a virgin but Gabriel tells her she is going to have a son.

  • The Spirit of God would come upon her and a child would be created in her womb.

  • The child would be a fulfillment of many of the prophecies God previously made to the Jews.

  • He would be called the “Son of the Most High” and He would sit on King David’s throne.

  • Mary accepts the words of the angel and the role God has given her to play.

• MARY VISITS ELIZABETH (1:39-1:56):

  • Mary makes a trip to the hill country of Judea to visit her relative Elizabeth.

  • Upon arriving, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and blesses Mary.

  • Then Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies about the work John and Jesus will accomplish.

• THE BIRTH OF JOHN (1:57-1:80):

  • Elizabeth gives birth to a son.

  • Eight days later, the boy is circumcised and given the name John.

  • Zechariah’s voice is restored.

BIG PICTURE:

• The Jews have been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years. He is about to arrive. Little did the world know, Jesus would be a blessing, not just to the Jews, but to people from every nation and every generation.

APPLICATION:

• God can take someone/something seemingly insignificant and use it/them in powerful ways.

• Even the faithful struggle with doubt (1:18). Accepting God’s correction will lead us to maturity (1:64).