The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament (68 page)

Other memorable features include Luke's unique contributions to the Gospel tradition. For Luke alone recounts the parables of the Good Samaritan (10:25-37) and the Prodigal Son (15:1132). Luke alone tells us of Gabriel's Annunciation to Mary (1:26-38), Jesus' boyhood experience in the Temple (2:41-51), and the details of his Ascension into glory (24:50-53). And only Luke has preserved some of the Church's most beautiful hymns, such as Mary's
Magnificat
(1:46-55), Zech-ariah's
Benedictus
(1:68-79), Simeon's
Nunc Dimittis
(2:29-35), and the
Gloria
sung by the angels on Christmas night (2:14).

There can be little doubt that Luke has bequeathed to us an artistic and spiritual masterpiece. This is no less true of his second volume, the Acts of the Apostles. Together these writings give clear and convincing witness to the greatness of Jesus Christ as he continues his worldwide mission of salvation through the Church. «

OUTLINE OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT LUKE

1. Preface (
1:1-4
)

2. Infancy Narrative (
1:5-2:52
)

   A. Birth Announcements of John and Jesus (
1:5-38
)

   B. The Visitation (
1:39-56
)

   C. Birth of John the Baptist (
1:57-80
)

   D. Birth and Presentation of Jesus (
2:1-40
)

   E. Finding Jesus in the Temple (
2:41-52
)

3. Preparations for Ministry (
3:1-4:13
)

   A. Ministry of John the Baptist (
3:1-20
)

   B. Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus (
3:21-38
)

   C. Temptation of Jesus (
4:1-13
)

4. Galilean Ministry (
4:14-9:50
)

   A. Rejection at Nazareth (
4:14-30
)

   B. Healing the Sick and the Call of Disciples (
4:31-6:16
)

   C. Sermon on the Plain (
6:17-49
)

   D. Jesus as Teaching and Healing Prophet (
7:1-9:27
)

   E. The Transfiguration (
9:28-36
)

   F. Lessons on Faith and Humility (
9:37-50
)

5. Journey to Jerusalem (
9:51-19:27
)

   A. First to Second Reference to Jerusalem (
9:51-13:21
)

   B. Second to Third Reference to Jerusalem (13:22-17:10)

   C. Third to Fourth Reference to Jerusalem (
17:11-18:30
)

   D. Fourth to Fifth Reference to Jerusalem (
18:31-19:27
)

6. Passion Week Narratives (
19:28-23:56
)

   A. Jesus as He Enters Jerusalem and Teaches (
19:28-20:47
)

   B. Jesus' Olivet Discourse (
21:1-38
)

   C. Celebration of the Passover (
22:1-38
)

   D. Agony and Arrest of Jesus (
22:39-53
)

   E. Trials of Jesus (
22:54-23:25
)

   F. Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial (
23:26-56
)

7. Resurrection and Ascension (
24:1-53
)

   A. The Empty Tomb (
24:1-12
)

   B. Resurrection Appearances (
24:13-49
)

   C. Heavenly Ascension (
24:50-53
)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

Chapters

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Essays and Charts

Mary, Ark of the Covenant

The Census of Quirinius

The Parables of Jesus

Jesus, the Son of Man

Dedication to Theophilus

1
 
Inasmuch as
many have undertaken
to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us,
²
just as they were
delivered to us
by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,
³
it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely
^a
for some time past, to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent Theoph'ilus
,
 
*
⁴
that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been
informed
.

The Birth
of John the Baptist Foretold

5
 
*
 
In the days of
Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechari'ah,
^b
of the division of Abi'jah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
⁶
And they were both
righteous before God
, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
⁷
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was
barren
, and both were advanced in years.

8
 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
⁹
according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the
temple of the Lord
and burn incense.
¹⁰
And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the
hour of incense
.
¹¹
And there appeared to him an
angel of the Lord
standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
¹²
And Zechari'ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
¹³
But the angel said to him, "
Do not be afraid
, Zechari'ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴
And you will have joy and gladness,

  
and many will rejoice at his birth;

¹⁵
for he will be great before the Lord,

  
and he shall drink no
wine nor strong drink
,

  
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,

  
even from his mother's womb.

¹⁶
And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,

¹⁷
and he will go before him in the
spirit and power of Eli'jah
,

  
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,

  
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,

  
to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

¹⁸
And Zechari'ah said to the angel, "
How shall I know this
? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."
¹⁹
And the angel answered him, "I am
Gabriel
, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
²⁰
And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."
²¹
And the people were waiting for Zechari'ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple.
²²
And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained mute.
²³
And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24
 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying,
²⁵
"Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away
my reproach
among men."

The Birth of Jesus Foretold [
Map
]

26
 In the
sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
²⁷
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
²⁸
And he came to her and said, "
Hail
, full of grace,
^b2
the Lord is with you!"
^c
29
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
³⁰
And the angel said to her,
 
*
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
³¹
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus
.

³²
He will be great
, and will be called the Son of the Most High;

  
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

³³
and he will reign over
the house of Jacob
for ever;

  
and of his kingdom there will be no end."

³⁴
And Mary said to the angel, "
How can this be
,
 
*
since I have no husband?"
³⁵
And the angel said to her,

  
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

  
and the power of the Most High will
overshadow
you;

  
therefore the child to be born
^d
will be called holy,

  
the Son of God.

³⁶
And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
³⁷
For with God
nothing will be impossible
."
³⁸
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be to me
according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth; and Mary's Song of Praise

39
 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
⁴⁰
and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.
⁴¹
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the child
leaped in her womb
; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
⁴²
and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "
Blessed are you
among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
⁴³
And why is this granted me, that the
mother of my Lord
should come to me?
⁴⁴
For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy.
⁴⁵
And blessed is she who believed that there would be
^e
a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
⁴⁶
And Mary said,

  
"
My soul magnifies
the Lord,

⁴⁷
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

  
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

⁴⁹
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

  
and holy is his name.

⁵⁰
And his mercy is on those who fear him

  
from generation to generation.