Theophilus, a non-Jewish person (Gentile), was a new believer. Luke writes his carefully investigated narrative to reassure him that he belongs in this racially mixed, & predominantly Jewish community. In his Gospel, Luke shows how God takes “outsiders,” & makes them “insiders,” those who are both involved with, & even related to God through Jesus. God also wants us to know that we belong in his community even though we may have no history with him or his people. It’s that kind of message that Luke is communicating to us through his Gospel. Do you feel like you don’t fit in at church? When you hear others’ stories of their encounters with Jesus, does it sound strange to you? When you think about how you were raised, do you feel disadvantaged? Well, what Luke writes in his Gospel is for you. But maybe you’ve been thinking lately that you’re drifting away from Jesus; feeling cold toward him. This book is for you. And maybe you’re someone who has no idea who Jesus is. Luke is definitely a great introduction to him, & you’re going to get lots out of this journey we’re about to launch.

Luke, writing as a careful historian, anchors his account during the reign of Herod the Great—a violent and paranoid ruler— underscoring the harsh reality of Roman rule over Israel. The Jewish people longed for deliverance after the so-called “400 years of silence,” though events like the Maccabean revolt and the Septuagint’s translation reveal that God was still at work; indeed, ‘God never stops working.’ The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth showcases God’s faithfulness as He chooses a humble, righteous couple to miraculously bear John the Baptist in their old age. Zechariah’s name —“God remembers”— underscores that no prayer is forgotten, even when our hope fades. God often works through ordinary folk with faithful hearts. John’s role as the forerunner of Christ bridges the Old and New Testaments; born in the old era, he fulfills Malachi’s prophecy (four centuries earlier) of an Elijah-figure, preparing the way for Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah and Redeemer.