Luk 1 outline:
Luk 1:1-4, Introduction of Luke’s orderly account to Theophilus;
Luk 1:5-25, Annunciation and conception of John the Baptist to Zacharias and Elizabeth
Luk 1:26-38, Annunciation and conception of Jesus the Messiah to the virgin Mary
Luk 1:39-45, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, and her prophetic greeting concerning the son in her womb
Luk 1:46-55, The song of Mary magnifying the LORD
Luk 1:56, Mary remained with her three months, then returned to her home
Luke 1:57-66, John the Baptist’s birth and naming/ circumcision
Luk 1:67-79, Zacharias’ prophetic blessing over his son
Luk 1:80, John grew, becoming strong in spirit, in the deserts until he was manifested to Israel
Luk 1:5-80 chiastic structure:
1a.1) Luk 1:5-25, Annunciation and conception of John the Baptist to Zacharias and Elizabeth
1a) Luk 1:5-7, Introduction of Zacharias and Elizabeth + Elizabeth was barren;
1b) Luk 1:8-9, Zacharias’ turn of service to burn incense at the altar of incense inside the temple;
1c) Luk 1:10, And the whole multitude of people was praying outside at the hour of incense;
central axis) Luk 1:11-20, The angel announced the birth of John the Baptist;
2c) Luk 1:21-22, And the people waited + perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple;
2b) Luk 1:23, When his service was completed, he departed to his own house;
2a) Luk 1:24-25, His wife Elizabeth conceived, saying, Thus the Lord has dealt with me;
1a.2) Luk 1:26-38, Annunciation and conception of Jesus the Messiah to the virgin Mary;
1b) Luk 1:39-40, Mary departed and went to Zacharias’ house;
1c) Luk 1:41-45, Elizabeth: Blessed are you, and the fruit of your womb;
1d) Luk 1:46-49, He who is mighty, God my Savior, has done great things + regarded my lowly state;
central axis) Luk 1:50, His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation;
2d) Luk 1:51-23, In strength He scattered the proud + put down the mighty + exalted the lowly;
2c) Luk 1:54-55, He has helped His servant Israel just as He spoke to Abraham + his seed;
2b) Luk 1:56, Mary returned to her own house;
2a.1) Luk 1:57-64, John the Baptist’s birth and naming/ circumcision;
2a.2) Luk 1:65-80, Blessed is the God of Israel who has visited and redeemed His people;
1a) Luk 1:65-66, Fear fell on all: What will this child be? / the hand of the Lord was with him;
central axis) Luk 1:67-79, Prophecy of Zacharias: Blessed is the God of Israel who has visited and redeemed His people;
2a) Luk 1:80, So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the desert until his manifestation to Israel.
There is an interesting parallel construction in the announcements made to both Zacharias and Mary:
Luk 1:11-25, The annunciation and conception of John the Baptist:
1.1 Luk 1:11, Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense;
1.2 Luk 1:12, When Zacharias saw him, fear fell upon him, and he was troubled;
1.3 Luk 1:13-17, The angel announced the good news of John’s birth;
1.4 Luk 1:18, Zacharias: How shall I believe this? For I am old and my wife is well advanced in years;
1.5 Luk 1:19-22, Gabriel: I was sent to you + you will be mute until these things are fulfilled because you did not believe;
1.6 Luk 1:23, When his service was completed, Zacharias departed to his own house;
1.7, Luk 1:24-25, His wife Elizabeth conceived, saying, Thus the Lord has dealt with me.
Luk 1:26-45, The annunciation and conception of Jesus the Messiah:
2.1 Luk 1:26-28, In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a virgin of the house of David, saying Rejoice;
2.2 Luk 1:29, But when she saw him, she was troubled, and considered what manner of greeting this was;
2.3 Luk 1:30-33, The angel announced the good news of Jesus’ birth;
2.4 Luk 1:34, Mary: How can this be, since I do not know a man?;
2.5 Luk 1:35-38, Gabriel: The Holy Spirit will come upon you + for with God nothing will be impossible;
2.6, Luk 1:39-40, Mary departed and went to Zacharias’ house;
2.7, Luk 1:41-45, His wife Elizabeth perceived the Messiah, saying, Blessed is she who believed.
The first 3 verses of Luke 1 tell us some important information about his gospel. Luke became a believer and accompanied Paul throughout all the latter half of his life and ministry. He was a doctor by profession, so he had a very scientific mind. He says that many had already written down a narrative of the life of Jesus, those who were eyewitnesses of the things He did (Matthew and Mark were written before Luke).
Luke was not an eyewitness. But he investigated all things from the very first, and set all the events in Jesus’ life down in order. Luke’s gospel is chronological. Matthew arranged his gospel by themes, so his gospel was ordered, but not chronologically. Luke ordered his gospel chronologically. Luke is the closest we can come to a biography in the sense that we are used to: a chronological narrative of a life.
Many people tell new believers to read the gospel of John first. I don’t. John is full of difficult theology that requires an understanding of the Old Testament in order to grasp. Luke will give you the history, the facts, of who Jesus was and what He said and did, straight and simple.
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