About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
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The Gospel of Luke
Luke was not one of the 12 disciples. Years after Jesus was
crucified, Luke traveled with the apostle Paul. Luke had been a
doctor before he started traveling with Paul. Luke wrote this book of
the Bible based on what Paul and others told him.
Luke also wrote the Book of Acts.
The Gospel of Luke was probably written in 85 - 90 AD.
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Introduction
Luke is writing this to a man named Theophilus. He said
that many people have tried to write about Jesus. At that time, there were
other writings and eyewitness accounts about Jesus' life and His resurrection.
Luke felt that he would be a good person to write these things down in a more
organized way. He wanted everyone to understand about Jesus and the things He
taught.
[1] Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of
those things which are most surely believed among us,
[2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
[3] It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things
from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
[4] That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast
been instructed.
Elisabeth becomes pregnant.
Herod was once the king of Judea. During the time
that Herod was king, there was a priest named Zacharias. He was a
descendant of Abia. Zacharias' wife was Elizabeth. She was a
descendant of Moses' brother, Aaron. Zacharias and Elizabeth were good people
and obeyed God. They followed all of the Lord's laws.
[5] There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron,
and her name was Elisabeth.
[6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Zacharias and Elisabeth did not have any children.
Now, they were both old, and Elisabeth couldn't have a baby.
[7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were
now well stricken in years.
Zacharias was a priest, and he did God's work according to the law. One day, it
was his job was to burn incense in the Lord's temple. A crowd of people
was waiting outside.
[8] And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God
in the order of his course,
[9] According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord.
[10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of
incense.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias. The
angel was standing on the right side of the altar that was used for burning incense.
[11] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side
of the altar of incense.
When Zacharias saw the angel, he was upset and afraid.
[12] And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
The angel said, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias. Your
prayer is heard. Your wife, Elisabeth, will have a son. You will name him John.
You will have joy and be glad. Many people will be happy when he is born."
[13] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
[14] And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
The angel continued, "He will be great in God's eyes. He will not drink wine or
strong alcohol. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as he is born.
He will turn many Jews to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of Him.
He will have the spirit and power of Elijah. He will make fathers love their
children more. He will make people who break laws change to have wisdom like good people
have. He will get people ready for the Lord."
[15] For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither
wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his
mother's womb.
[16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
[17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zacharias said that he didn't know how this could
happen because he and his wife were both old.
[18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an
old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
The angel said, "My name is Gabriel. I stand with
God, and He sent me to tell you these happy things. But you don't believe me. So,
you won't be able to talk until your baby is born."
[19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the
presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad
tidings.
[20] And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that
these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which
shall be fulfilled in their season.
The people were waiting for Zacharias outside the
temple. They wondered what was taking him so long.
[21] And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long
in the temple.
When Zacharias came out of the temple, he couldn't talk
to them. They thought he had seen a vision in the temple. He was motioning
to them, but he couldn't say anything.
[22] And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that
he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained
speechless.
After Zacharias' time of working in the temple was
over, he left and went back home.
[23] And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were
accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Later, Zacharias' wife, Elisabeth, became pregnant. She
hid for 5 months. She said the Lord had helped her so that other
people wouldn't look down on her.
[24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five
months, saying,
[25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to
take away my reproach among men.
Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
The angel, Gabriel, talks to Mary.
When Elisabeth was 6 months pregnant, God sent the
angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in the area of Galilee.
[26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of
Galilee, named Nazareth,
Gabriel went to talk to Mary. Mary was a virgin,
and she was engaged to a man named Joseph. Joseph was one of David's
descendants.
[27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;
and the virgin's name was Mary.
Gabriel came in to talk to Mary. He said, "You are highly favoured. God is with
you. You are a woman that is blessed more than other women."
[28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
When Mary saw Gabriel, she was upset by what he
said. She was confused about what he was saying.
[29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind
what manner of salutation this should be.
Gabriel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary. God is happy with
you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You will call His
name Jesus. He will be great. He will be the Son of the Highest. The Lord
God will give Him David's throne. He will rule over the house of Jacob
forever. There will never be an end to His kingdom."
[30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour
with God.
[31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and
shalt call his name JESUS.
[32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
[33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end.
Mary asked, "How can this happen since I have never had
sexual relations with a man?"
[34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Gabriel said, "The Holy Spirit will come to you.
The Holy Spirit has the power of the Highest. Your baby will be called the
Son of God. Your cousin Elisabeth is also pregnant. She was barren
and couldn't have a baby, but now she is pregnant. With God, nothing is
impossible."
[35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
[36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old
age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
[37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Mary said, "I will be obedient to the Lord. Let it be
the way you are telling me." Then, the angel left her.
[38] And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Mary visits Elisabeth.
A little later, Mary hurried to go visit Elisabeth.
Elisabeth lived in the hill country of Judea.
[39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Juda;
[40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
When Mary arrived and greeted Elisabeth, Elisabeth's
unborn baby jumped in her womb. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
[41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the
babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Elisabeth said, "You are the most blessed woman. The baby
in your womb is blessed. You are the mother of the Lord. Why have you come
to me? As soon as you spoke to me, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You
are blessed because you believed. Everything the Lord told you will
happen."
[42] And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among
women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
[43] And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
[44] For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the
babe leaped in my womb for joy.
[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those
things which were told her from the Lord.
Mary said, "My soul praises the Lord. My spirit is
happy because of God my Saviour. He saw that I am low, but from now on,
people will call me blessed. He is mighty and has done great things for
me. His name is holy."
[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
[48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
[49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
Mary continued, "God has mercy on the people who fear Him from generation to
generation. He has showed His strong arm. He has scattered people who are
too proud of themselves. He brought mighty people down from where they sat. He
raised people up who were low. He has filled the hungry people with good food.
He sent away rich people with nothing. He has helped Israel, His servant.
They will remember His mercy. He talked to our ancestors, to Abraham, and
to Abraham's descendants forever."
[50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts.
[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low
degree.
[53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty
away.
[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
[55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Mary stayed with Elisabeth for about 3 months. Then, she went back to her home.
[56] And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
John the Baptist is born.
It was time for Elisabeth to have her baby. She had a
baby boy. Her neighbors and cousins heard how God had showed her great
mercy. They were happy with her.
[57] Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she
brought forth a son.
[58] And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great
mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day, it was time to circumcise the baby.
They called the baby Zacharias, the same name as his father. But Elisabeth said no.
She said his name would be John.
[59] And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
[60] And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
The others said that there was no one else in her
family named John. They signed with their hands to Zacharias to ask him
what to name the baby.
[61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this
name.
[62] And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
Zacharias asked for something to write on. He
wrote, "His name is John." Everyone was amazed. Then, Zacharias'
mouth was opened, and he could talk again. He praised God.
[63] And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And
they marvelled all.
[64] And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake,
and praised God.
Everyone who heard about this was amazed. They spread
the word all over the hill country of Judaea. Everyone who heard it thought
about how John would grow up. God's hand was on John.
[65] And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings
were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
[66] And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What
manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit. He started to say this prophecy:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. He has come to His people and redeemed
them.
He is raising our salvation like He said He would by the holy prophets. He
promised this since the world began.
He promised that we would be saved from our enemies and from all the people who
hate us.
God promised our ancestors and made the covenant promise with Abraham.
God promised to save us from our enemies so we could serve Him without fear.
We would serve Him in holiness and goodness all the days of our lives.
You, child (John) will be called the prophet of God. You will go ahead of the
Lord and prepare the way for Him.
You will tell the people how to apologize for their sins and be saved.
They will be saved through the tender mercy of our God.
God's mercy will be like light to the people in darkness and in the shadow of
death.
He will guide our feet into the way of peace.
[67] And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied,
saying,
[68] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his
people,
[69] And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant
David;
[70] As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the
world began:
[71] That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that
hate us;
[72] To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy
covenant;
[73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
[74] That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear,
[75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
[76] And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt
go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
[77] To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their
sins,
[78] Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high
hath visited us,
[79] To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the way of peace.
John grew and his spirit became strong. He lived in the
desert until the time that he started to teach the people in Israel.
[80] And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till
the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Picture from LaVista Church of Christ |
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Jesus in the
temple |
It was the 15th year of when Tiberius Caesar was
ruler over the Roman Empire. Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea. Herod was
the ruler of the area of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip was the leader of the area named Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysaniah was the leader of the area named
Abilene.
[1] Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the
tetrarch of Abilene,
Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests at that time.
The word of God came to Zacharias' son, John, while he was in the wilderness.
[2] Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John
the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
John went out into all the country around the Jordan
River. He preached that people should ask God to forgive their sins and then be
baptized.
[3] And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins;
This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said. Isaiah
said, "There will be the voice of one who cries in the wilderness. Get ready for
the Lord to come. Make His paths straight. Every valley will be filled.
Every mountain and hill will fall down. The crooked ways will become
straight. The rough ways will become smooth. Everyone will see the salvation of
God."
[4] As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his
paths straight.
[5] Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought
low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made
smooth;
[6] And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
John talked to the crowds. He said they were like
snakes. They were running away from the trouble that is coming. He asked them
who warned them.
[7] Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O
generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
John told them they need to say they are sorry for
their sins. They shouldn't think that just being Jewish is enough. God can
even make the rocks become Jewish.
[8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say
within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Now, the ax is cutting down the trees that don't make
good fruit. They are being cut down at the roots. They are cut down and then
thrown into the fire.
[9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree
therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
The people asked John, "What should we do?" He told
them to help other people. If they have 2 coats, give 1 coat to someone who
doesn't have a coat. If they have meat, give some meat to people who don't have
any.
[10] And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
[11] He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to
him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Public officials came to be baptized. They asked John,
"Master, what should we do?"
[12] Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what
shall we do?
He told them not to take more taxes than the people
owe.
[13] And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
Soldiers asked John, "What should we do?" John said, "Don't behave violently to
anyone. Don't accuse anyone if they didn't do anything wrong. Be content with
your pay."
[14] And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?
And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be
content with your wages.
The people had been waiting for God to send a Saviour.
They wondered in their hearts if John might be the Saviour or not.
[15] And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of
John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
John answered them. He said, "I baptize you with
water. But there is One coming who is mightier than me. He is so much greater
than me that I am not even worthy enough to untie his shoes. He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will be like a farmer thrashing his wheat.
He will get rid of the bad part of the wheat and burn it."
[16] John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but
one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to
unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
[17] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will
gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire
unquenchable.
John told them many other things when he preached to
the people.
[18] And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
John is put into prison.
The leader of the area was named Herod. John
criticized Herod because he was with his brother's wife. Her name was
Herodias. John criticized the evil things that Herod had done. So
Herod had John put into prison.
[19] But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother
Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
[20] Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
John baptizes Jesus.
Before he went to prison, John baptized Jesus. While He
was being baptized, He was praying. Then, the heaven opened. The Holy Ghost came
down in a dove and landed on Him. There was a voice from heaven. The voice
said, "You are My beloved Son. I am very pleased with You."
[21] Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also
being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
[22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a
voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well
pleased.
Genealogy of Jesus
This is the family history (genealogy) of Jesus.
Jesus was 30 when He began His ministry. His father was Joseph. Joseph's father was Heli.
The genealogy starts with God. Adam was His son. Here is the list going
from God to Jesus.
God
Adam
Seth
Enos
Cainan
Maleleel
Jared
Enoch
Mathusala
Lamech
Noe
Sem
Arphaxad
Cainan
Sala
Heber
Phalec
Ragau
Saruch
Nachor
Thara
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Judah
Phares
Esrom
ARam
Aminadab
Naasson
Salmon
Boaz
Obed
Jesse
David
Nathan
Mattatha
Menan
Melea
Eliakim
Jonan
Joseph
Judah
Simeon
Levi
Matthat
Jorim
Eliezer
Jose
Er
Elmodam
Cosam
Addi
Melchi
Neri
Salathiel
Zorobabel
Rhesa
Joanna
Judah
Joseph
Semei
Mattathia
Maath
Nagge
Esli
Naum
Amos
Mattathias
Joseph
Janne
Melchi
Levi
Matthat
Heli
Joseph
Jesus
[23] And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
[24] Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son
of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
[25] Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the
son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
[26] Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the
son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
[27] Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son
of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
[28] Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son
of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
[29] Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son
of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
[30] Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son
of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
[31] Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son
of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
[32] Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of
Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
[33] Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son
of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
[34] Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son
of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
[35] Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son
of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
[36] Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the
son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
[37] Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the
son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
[38] Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of
Adam, which was the son of God.