Reflections Womens Bible Study & Prayer Group

Lessons
from
Luke
Studies

in Luke-Acts

Names to Know:
Chapter One
Luke

Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; II Timothy 4:11

Theophilus

Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1 most excellent a title for Roman nobility,
lover of God

Zechariah, Elizabeth,
*John the Baptist

ZechariahPriests shift rotations I Chron. 9; Age restrictions for

Levites Num. 8:23-26; priests - Num. 4:3.
Note: 1760 Levites after exile years
JohnMalachi 4:5-6 & Matt. 11:14; Isaiah 40:3
No alcohol on duty Num. 6 & Lev. 10:8-9.

Gabriel

Daniel 8:16
Mormons Gabriel=Noah & spoke to Joseph Smith. Islam says

Gabriel appeared to Muhammad.

*Mary
Joseph

vv. 46-55 - the Magnificat or Song of Mary, similar to Hannahs

song of I Sam. 2:1-10.
Marys life & calling predicted: Isaiah 7:14

*Jesus

Name provided by angel. Jesus in Greek = Joshua in Hebrew

Numerous prophecies in OT about Him.

*Someone mentioned in prophecy of Old Testament.

Watching Jesus Grow Up Luke 2

Watch for these: (1) Jesus under the law of Moses (2) Marys heart journal. Galatians 4:4 But when
the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law. Seed of woman Gen.
3:15
_________________________________________________________
1. B E T H L E H E M
Gods providence Census got Mary & Joseph (an engaged couple) to Bethlehem to fulfill Micah 5:2.
Word for inn could also be guest room.
Church of the Nativity historical background, Jeromes work
Shepherds usually in open field warmer months, not December.
Angels English: great company of the heavenly host =French: une multitude de larme celeste
Like David in I Chron. 25:1, army marshalled together for an important event to lend dignity to the
occasion. See Heb. 1:6, Shepherds Field near Bethlehem today.[Mary journals.]
1. Circumcision 8th day Ex. 13:2, 12, Vitamin K has formed in intestines by 8th day to allow
coagulation of blood. See None of These Diseases by S. I. McMillen, MD & his gson, David
E. Stern, MD.
2. Presentation at temple (Jerusalem) & Marys purification rite, 41 days after birth of male child.
Mary & Joseph were poor, Lev. 12:8. Simeon & Ana [Mary journals.] Luke 2:32 Jesus is for
everyone.
2. S O M E W H E R E I N E G Y P T
3. N A Z A R E T H
After some time in Egypt ( Matt. 2:13-23), family settles in Nazareth of Galilee. (1) Nazareth then (2)
Nazareth today. (See PowerPoint.)
(1)

In Galilee, northern part of Israel. Different accents up there. Matt. 26:73; Mark 14:70.
Situated in a basin in the south side of a hill 1150 feet above sea level. From the top of the hill, ten
minutes climb, a view unrivalled in Galilee. To the north a beautiful panorama of fertile hills and
valleys, dotted with prosperous cities, snow-capped Hermon in the distance. Nearby, 3 miles distant,
was Gath-hepher, the ancient home of Jonah. To the south the Plain of Esdraelon extending from the

(2)

Jordan to the Mediterranean, the principal scene of Israels age-old struggle for existence. Ten miles to
the west of Nazareth, in full view Mr. Carmel, where Elijah, in his contest with Baal, had called down
fire from heaven. To the southwest, about the same distance, the pass of Armageddon, famous
battlefield of the nationsTo the south.only 8 miles, Shunem, were Elisha raised the Shunammites
son to life. Nearby the spring of Harod, where Gideon with his 300 had put the Midianites to route.
And Jezreel, where the infamous Jezebel had met her unhappy fate. And Mt. Gilboa, where king Saul
was slain by the Philistines. And Endor, where the witch had called back Samuels spirit. The river
Kishon , where Deborah and Barak subdued the Canaanites. All this in full view from the top of the
hill of Nazareth. What a center of historic associations. We can imagine that Jesus often climbed the
hill, and meditated deeply on history that had been made to bring him into the world. (From Halleys
Bible Handbook, p. 493-494.)
There was an uphill, living spring that brought water down to the town via conduit Marys well or
Virgins Well.
Today 60% Muslim. Signs & billboards about Allah, one God.
Historical churches.
4. J E R U S A L E M
Jesus went there at age 41 days, then yearly as required in Ex. 23:14, 17, maybe beginning at age 12.
Luke 2:41-51 - Mary father Jesus Father vv. 48-49
[Mary journals.]

LUKE Chapters 3-4:1-13 * * * WATCHING JESUS BEGIN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY

Some historical background:
Caesar Augustus
27 BC- AD 14
Caesar Tiberius
AD 14-37, his 15th year was c. AD 29, when John 1st preached
Pontius Pilate
AD 26-36 procurator of Judea
Herod Antipas
4 BC AD 39 (killed John the Baptist), tetrarch of Galilee & Perea
Herod Philip
4 BC AD 34 tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis
Lysanias
Ruled Abilene
Priests Joseph Caiaphas was appointed to the high priesthood by the procurator Valerius Gratus (AD
15-26) and was the acting official, while Annas [father-in-law of Caiaphas] was ex officio high priest,
but very influential. Ungers Bible Handbook, Luke, p. 519

JOHN THE BAPTIST

OT Prophecy of Johns life & message Isaiah 40:3-5 in Handels Messiah.
No political correctness in his message
Groups that came to John: crowds, tax collectors (publicans), soldiers, delegation from leaders,
Pharisees & Sadducees (See Matt. 3:5-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:6-8; 15-28.)
Stone changed into a Jew Abrahams DNA
His humility
John 3:16 Luke 3:16, both important
JESUS
Age 30 when priests entered office, Numbers 4:3
His baptism distinct, v. 21 when all the people were baptized that He might not seem to
be merely one of the crowd. Thus, as He rode into Jerusalem upon an ass, whereon yet never
man sat (ch. 19:30), and lay in a sepulcher wherein was never man yet laid (John 19:41), so
in His baptism He would be separate from sinners. Jamiesons Commentary on the Whole
Bible, p. 996
He prays during baptism. One writer suggests that maybe he was praying for the needed and
expected Spirit to rest upon Him. Maybe something like this: Lo, I come; I delight to do Thy
will, O God. Father, glorify Thy nameLet the Spirit of the Lord God come upon Me, and I
will preach the Gospel to the poor, and heal the broken-hearted. Ibid, p. 889
Jesus prays in Luke: 3:21, 5:16, 6:12-13, 9:18, 9:28-29, 11:1-4, 22:32-32, 22:41, 23:34, 24:30
His genealogy Matt. 1 & Luke 3 ancestors guilty of incest, prostitution, adultery, and
murder.

CHAPTER 4
Temptation in wilderness:

1. Bread

2. Earthy power

3. Manipulating God

Tempter will be back again. Jesus spoke of Satan a lot: Matthew 12:26; 13:19, 28, 38-39; 25:41;
Mark 4:15;
Luke 8:12, 10:18, 13:16, 22:31;
John 8:44, 12:31, 14:30
LUKE 4:14 - 5:16
REJECTION IN NAZARETH SYNAGOGUE, HIS HOME TOWN (Luke 4:14-30):
1. This account is only found in Luke. (See harmony of the gospels.)
2. Synagogues developed between Malachi- - Matthew (Inter-Biblical Period), in any town with
10 Jewish households. Temple officials were priests, but synagogue leaders were the
synagogue-ruler, the elders, and the attendant. Any man might be called on to read the
different portions of Scriptures.
3. Text from Isaiah 61:1-2, stopped before judgment part. Gracious words but not received.
Elijah (I Kings 17:7-24) & Elisha (II Kings 5) stories. Anger of crowd, attempted murder.
4. Two times in Nazareth: See Matt. 13:54-58 & Mark 6:1-6. Just Josephs son (Matt.13:55)
5. Sometimes rejection is an indication of success, not failure. This is because the gospel does
not tickle the ears of its hearers with compliments. It can be hard to look into a truly reflective
mirror & see what is there. Darrell Bock, p. 143, NIV Application Commentary, Luke
ACCEPTANCE IN CAPERNAUM (Luke 4:31-44):
1. Synagogue episode with demon possessed man. Why did Jesus make demons hush? vv. 35 &
41 Questionable source of endorsement.
2. Peters mother-in-law. Yes, Peter (Cephas) was married. See I Cor. 9:5. Perhaps his wife &
mother-in-law traveled with Jesus at times, some of the many others. See Luke 8:2-3.
Grateful women express love through sharing food.
3. Sunset, why sunset? v. 40 Sabbath day just ended. Galilean ministry Acts. 1:21-22
4. v. 42 Alone at dawn, probably praying for marching orders, then moves on to other towns.
5. Notes on Capernaum: On the NW shore of the Lake of Galilee, modern Tell
Hum, where extensive ruins exist (Matt. 11:23). It was also a toll-collecting
station (Matt. 9:9, 17:24-27), gathering tax revenue from caravans en route
from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast & Egypt. Jesus headquarters
were located here. Excavationsyielded one of the finest white limestone
synagogues in Palestine, restored by the Franciscans. Ornamented with
motifs of centaurs, lions, eagles, palm trees & vines, it is dated 2nd or 3rd
cen. AD. It was probably built on the site of the synagogue in which Jesus
ministered. Ungers Mark 1
C H AP T E R

DETAILS OF PETERS CALLING (Luke 5:1-11) Exclusive to Luke

1. Perhaps Luke got this from Paul, who got it from Peter during 15-day visit. Gal. 1:18. Another
boat day in Matt. 13:1-3
2. Leaving ALL for Jesus, Luke 5:11, 28.
3. Lord here & with leper. Kurios in Greek. First time Jesus called Lord.

THE MAN WITH LEPROSY (Luke 5:12-16; Matt. 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-44):
Rules for leprosy Lev. 13 & 14. Lev. 13:45-46...alone with mouth covered. Leprosy represents
SIN which makes us unclean. Cleansing ceremony (Lev. 14:1-7) portrays death/resurrection of
Christ. See sermon by Jon Courson: http://www.joncourson.com/teaching/teachingsplay.asp?
teaching=S7010.
JESUS BECOMES FAMOUS & CONTRAVERSIAL
Outline Luke 5:15 6:16 Dealing with fame & conflict

5:15-16 --Jesus retreats for prayer.

5:17-26 - Jesus heals a paralytic.

5:27-32 Jesus calls Levi (Matthew).

5:33-39 Jesus is questioned about fasting, explains his new agenda.

6:1-11 Jesus is Lord of Sabbath. 2 events

6:12-16 Jesus calls 12 disciples (apostles).

vv 5:15-16 Staying small in prayer. Mom of Oral Roberts gave this advice: Keep little in your own
eyesbe like Jesus. My Story by Oral Roberts, 1961, p. 209.
Possible headlines below in ALL CAPSif story had appeared in newspapers of the day.
vv 17-26 ROOF-TOP INVASION Man healed; eyebrows raised!! The Lords old enemies from
Jerusalem are there. (Jn. 2:18) Bengel: The bed had borne Criticism: You cant forgive sin!!
the man; now the man was bearing the bed. The ability
of
Charge: Blasphemy
the paralyzed man to resume his walk of life is a picture
of
what Jesus does when he saves. NIV Comm. Luke, p. 158
Son of Man title is used in NT only by Jesus & Stephen, Acts. 7:56. Verse 24 is 1st time used by
Luke; he uses it in all 26 times. It appears 86 times in 4 Gospels. See Daniel 7:13-14 & Mark 14:62.
vv 27-32 RABBI RECRUITS ROBBER Jesus calls Levi (Matthew). The Talmud classifies
publicans (tax collectors) as robbers. (Sanhedrin 25b)
The
Criticism: You eat with sinners.
fishermen could always go back to fishing, but probably
Charge: Unclean
Matthew could never get his job back as tax collector.
Does meal scene justify hanging out in bars today??? (Eph. 5:7-14) Today, Franklin Graham has
organized Matthew events in homes, based on Matthewss banquet story. The their sect info in v
30 shows Luke was explaining for Gentile readers. Peoples reaction: We have seen strange things
today.
vv 33-39 JESUS: OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKER Questioned about lack of fasting. OT
commanded fasting on Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29,
Criticism: You dont fast like us.
31), otherwise voluntary (Matt. 6:16-18). Three object
Charge: Impious, sloppy devotion
lessons: bridegroom, patch on cloth, wineskin. Jesus was
bringing in a new era, not patching up an old one. Was this predicted in OT? Jer. 31:31-34.

Chapter 6:1-5 HARVESTING OR MUNCHING??? Sampling food while passing a field was
OK. (Deut. 23:25). Were the disciples guilty of reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food on
Sabbath Day? The Mishnah, Shabbath 7:2, has 39
Criticism: Your men are working.
prohibited Sabbath activities. Hagigah 1:8 says for
Charge: Sabbath breaking
Scripture is scanty and the rules many. David story. (I
Sam. 21;1-6) Discuss Eric Liddells decision in Chariots of Fire movie & later in WWII prison camp.
6:6-11 HAND RESTORED DURING CONFRONTATION - Compare Mark 3:1-6. Jesus looked
around with anger Silence in synagogue, no replies
Criticism: Healing on Sabbath
from critics. They left and plotted with Herodians to
Day.
destroy Jesus. HERODIANS a political group (also in
Charge: Sabbath breaking
Matt. 22:15, 16), supporters of Herods dynasty, which
was
created by Caesar. The Pharisees regarded them as untrue to their religion and country. But here we
see them combining together against Christ as a common enemy. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown,
Commentary on the Whole Bible, p. 922.
4 Religious Parties: (1) Essenes separated themselves; (2) Zealots against Rome; (3) Sadducees
against angels & resurrection, bought priesthood offices Acts 23:6-7; (4) Pharisees strict law
observers. Josephus Antiquities, xvii.42 says there were a little over 6,000 Pharisees in that day.
Scribes (or teachers of the law) could be either Pharisees or Sadducees. Luke links them with
Pharisees 5 times & with chief priests 7 times.
*** THREE TREASURE HUNTS IN LUKE ***
(1) Who?? Answer: Jesus 5:21; 7:49; 8:25:9:9, 18, 20; 19:3
(2) Dining scenes in Luke 7:36; 9:12ff; 10:38ff; 11:37; 14:1; 19:7; 22:14; 24:30, 41ff. Eating
together implies acceptance & creates emotional bonding.
(3) Repentance in Luke 3:3, 8; 10:13; 11:32; 13:3,5; 15:7, 10; 16:30; 17:3-4; 24:47. He
emphasized it more than Matthew or Mark.
6:12-19 JESUS CHOOSES CABINET SUCCESSORS (not co-rulers) Prayer before selecting
team, the Twelve. List given 4 times: Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-19; Acts 1:13. Simon
Peter always mentioned first. Luke never calls him Simon again after this list. Matt. 16:17-18 Simon
(Barjona = Simon, son of Jonas) Jesus named Simon Peter Greek = Petros, a sling-stone or marker
stone. Petra = boulder. V 18 thou art Petros..upon this petra Disciple is follower or student.
Apostle is one sent with a message.
Some AKAs for disciples:
Levi = Matthew
Nathaniel = Bartholomew
Thaddeus = Judas, or Lebbaeus, son of James.
Thomas, the twin, Didymus, Jn. 11:16; 20:24, known in history as Doubting Thomas.
James, son of Alpheus called the Little, perhaps shorter than other James, brother of John.
APOSTLE: Job description Matt. 10:1, 7-8; Benefits Mark 10:28-30. Working hazards II
Cor. 11:23-12:10; I Cor. 4:9-13.
Note this brief essay below on the amazing transformation of Jesus men into Apostles. (From
Halleys Bible Handbook by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Pub., 1959, p. 436)

The Training of the Twelve

The choosing and training of the men to whom he was to entrust his work was an extremely
important part of Jesus earthly mission. Jesus primary purpose in coming into the world was to die as
the Lamb of God in expiation for human sin and to rise from the dead to bring eternal life to mankind.
But his Life, Death and Resurrection would be useless to the world unless the world knows about it. If
men to whom he entrusted his work should fail him, then his coming to earth would have been in
vain.
Their training was not an easy task, for they were being trained for a work utterly different
from what they thought they were being trained for. They began to follow him as politicians, with no
thought whatever of becoming preachers, as they turned out to be. They were expecting that, as the
Messiah, he would establish a political world empire, of which they would be the administrators.
His method of changing their minds about the work that he and they were to do was, first, to
present himself to them in all the fullness of his divine glory, so that, no matter how differently he
talked and acted from the way they expected the Messiah to talk and act, they would still believe that
he was the one. That is one of the reasons he wrought miracles, and that he was transfigured.
Then, along with that, he spoke in parables, veiled sayings, to give them the impression that he
did not always mean exactly what he appeared to mean. [This] Kept them for a while in a state of
wonderment. If he had told them plainly at the start, they might not have been interested in following
him at all.
When at last he told them that he was going to be crucified, instead of erecting a throne, it
stunned them. But they still persisted in thinking it was only a parable. Even at the Last Supper, their
minds were still on which one of them was to have the greatest office.
Not till after his Resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit did they at last come to
understand that it was to be a kingdom in which Jesus would reign in the Hearts of men, and that their
part would be simply TELLING THE STORY OF JESUS. That is all. The Story would do its own
work. If men know about Jesus, they will love him.

Discussion questions:
Do we see criticism of Christians today?
How can celebrities stay humble?
What is Jesus training us to be?
Have we left ALL to follow Jesus?
How do we observe a day of rest today?
What happened to the 12 disciples in later years?

Tune: Bringing in the Sheaves by Knowles Shaw, Public domain

Verse 2: copyright 1975 Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc. All rights reserved.
Used by permission.

There were 12 dis ci ples

James; his brother, John;

He

has called us

has

called

Si mon Peter; An drew;

Phil ip, Tho-mas, Matthew, James, the son of Al - pheus,

Thaddaeus; Si -mon; Ju - das

He

Je - sus called to help Him,

too.

us

And Bar tho- lo - mew.

We are his

too.

dis - ci ples.

He

has

He has called us

am one and

called

us

too.

too.

you.

We

are

his

di -

ci

ples.

We

His

work

must

do.