Luke Chapter 1
The book of Luke and its sequel Acts were both written by Luke a physician as recorded by Paul in Colossians 4:14. Luke addresses both books to a man named Theophilus. Nothing is known about this man other than he had received some teachings about Jesus. Since it is believed that Luke wrote this account as well as Acts while with Paul, it may be that Theophilus was a Roman official, and the writings of Luke were presented to him as evidence of the faith to help Paul’s case. Paul was imprisoned for quite a long time, waiting to stand trial in Rome. We know that Luke’s writing was inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore it is important for us to read as God saw fit for his writings to be included in the Holy Scriptures.
The other accounts mentioned of writings about the life of Jesus probably refers to the other gospels but may also refer to other writings of eyewitness accounts of Jesus whose writings were not inspired by the Holy Spirit and so were not included in the Bible.
Let's Reflect
1. What was the name of the priest who was an old man serving in the temple during the time of King Herod?
2. This priest would have been someone who studied the Old Testament scriptures diligently and was waiting for the Messiah to come and fulfill prophecy. What made this priest very afraid one evening as he served in the temple?
3. Why didn’t the priest believe the message that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child?
4. What was the name of the angel that came to the priest and then was sent to a young woman named Mary in Nazareth?
5. What prophecy did the angel tell Mary would be fulfilled through the birth of her child? See verses 32 and 33.
6. The angel also gave her a second little secret, that her relative Elizabeth was going to give birth as well. How would a virgin who had never been with a man and a lady past her child birthing years suddenly have babies? See verses 35-36.
7. When Mary went to visit her relative Elizabeth, scripture tells us that the baby inside Elizabeth leaped in her womb, and she became filled with the Holy Spirit. This was more than just two women getting together to share excitement about their pregnancies. These two ladies both recognized that God had reached down to earth to fulfill His promises through them. As they were probably in a state of shock for a moment, they would have reflected on what they just said to each other as the Holy Spirit gave them understanding. And then what was Mary’s response to all of this?
8. Elizabeth’s husband had not been able to speak during the whole pregnancy. But at the birth of their child, he finally regained his voice. What was the first thing he did when he regained his voice? See verse 67.
9. In verses 69-75 the priest talked about which child first?
10. The people had been waiting for a long, long time for their Messiah to come. In fact, many had probably given up that He would ever come. (Sound familiar?) There would be work to do to prepare the hearts of the people to accept that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. What purpose was given to the life of John – this baby born just a few months before the Messiah was born?
Devotionals
