Sunday: An Orderly Account
Luke 1:1-3, Acts 1:1-3
Acts 1:1 tells us that before Acts was written, its author wrote a former account.
This, and the fact that both accounts were addressed to Theophilus, helps lead us to conclude that one author was responsible for both books. The two accounts can be viewed as Part 1 and 2 of Origin and History of the Christian Church.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
Part 1 is a narrative of the life and work of Jesus (the Gospel of Luke) and Part 2 (Acts of the Apostles) is an account of the spread of the message of Jesus and of the early church.
How was the Gospel written? Read Luke 1:2-3 and 2 Timothy 3:16.
Luke was aware of many who had written about the events that have shaken the city of Jerusalem and beyond—the events concerning Jesus Christ. The sources for such literary works included many eyewitnesses and ministers of the word
(Luke 1:2, NKJV) —a clear reference to the disciples and other contemporaries of Jesus. Luke himself had an exposure to these witnesses and ministers (such as Paul and other apostolic leaders) and possibly also to the Gospels written by Mark and Matthew. Luke, obviously, was not an eyewitness to the Jesus story, but he was a credible and authentic convert to Christ.
Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience, presenting Jesus as the Great Teacher, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the King of the Jews. He often referred to Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in Christ. Mark wrote to a Roman audience about Jesus, the person of action. Luke, a doctor and a Gentile, wrote to the Greeks and the Gentiles about the universal Jesus—the Savior of the world. Luke mentions that the purpose of his writing is twofold: to present an orderly account
(Luke 1:3, NKJV) and to provide certainty to the great teachings of the new era. Certainty about truth, as in Jesus, is one goal of his Gospel.
Luke, an inspired author of Scripture, used other material in his writings. Very interesting. Obviously that use of other sources doesn’t negate the inspiration or authority of what he wrote. What lessons should that have for us as Seventh-day Adventists regarding the question of how inspiration, either canonical or noncanonical, works on inspired writers?
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"Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and desires. Your Spirit brings us grace, truth, life, and freedom. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for you and for your kingdom". Indeed,Luke is, an inspired author of the Scripture...
This gospel of the Kingdom of God most go into the world and then the end will came. I am glade that Luke under the inspiration of God wrote to the world around him about Jesus the truth light of the world. My prayer is that we as God family learn to do the same.
God can use each and everyone on this earth to accomplish His task.Luke was a gentile yet he witnessed for Christ after he converted.
The Bible is not an orderly account at first. The Holy Scriptures invite us to dedicate time to search for their hidden treasures. We are supposed to follow in this holy search through the pages of this precious book inspired by the same Spirit who inspired their human writers. This way we can see an orderly account, this way we can trace the golden thread of the truth as Luke did.
what the difference between dr luke and matthew ,mark ?
Jean, this lesson outlines the differences between the three.
They all wrote about Jesus, His life and mission. Each chose to include or exclude information depending on whom they were addressing.
As John said if he wrote everything it would fill so many books.
The bible was written to kindle or inspire faith in the believers. (Romans 10:17).
Sister White wrote that: "Faith rests upon evidence, not demonstration." {YRP 230.3}
The word Evidence means: (the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.)
The word demonstration means: (the action or process of showing the existence or truth of something).
Luke wrote this gospel as 'evidence' to help the faith of those who will not have the privilege of seeing with their own eyes the power of God that was 'demonstrated' among the disciples and the first church of the christian era. (John 20: 29).
The 'demonstration' or we can say 'acts of the apostles' is not what we base our faith upon. Our faith is rooted in the 'evidence' or we can say 'life of Christ- the Word made flesh'. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2 kjv.
Even in the early church, some of the members did not understand this and they rested their faith on demonstrations and not evidence. For example 1 Corinthians 1:11-13. Some said they were on Apollos side and some Peter and others. Paul came and told them that their faith must be centered upon Christ whom these faithful Apostles taught about.
Luke first wrote the Gospel of Jesus (Evidence) in its orderly account by gathering all information that God made available to him so we can 'rest our faith upon evidence'. When he latter wrote to Theophilus his second letter in Acts (demonstrations or Acts) he has already presented to him the (Evidence) through the gospel thus not putting the cart before the horse.
Thus in our presentation of the gospel we must always put Christ first and center of our message.
"Never should a sermon be preached, or Bible instruction in any line be given, without pointing the hearers to "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. Every true doctrine makes Christ the center, every precept receives force from His words." Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 54.
I have discovered:
John wrote his gospel that we may believe in Jesus.
Luke wrote his gospel so that we have everything in order and we can be certain that it is true
Mark wrote his gospel so that we can be amazed.
Mathew wrote his gospel that we can be sure that Jesus is the promised Messiah
Reading Sabbath and Sundays lesson. How do we know that the writers of the Gospels were addressing difference audiences and for different purposes?
An orderly account means what?