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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

Overview of Luke

  • A. Luke’s Introduction (1:1-4)

    • Background for writing the account (1:1, 2)

    • Addressing Theophilus (1:3, 4)

  • B. Events Surrounding the Births of John the Baptist and Jesus (1:5-80)

    • John the Baptist’s birth foretold by Gabriel (1:5-25)

    • Jesus’ birth foretold by Gabriel (1:26-38)

    • Mary visits her relative Elizabeth (1:39-45)

    • Mary magnifies Jehovah (1:46-56)

    • Birth and naming of John (1:57-66)

    • Zechariah’s prophecy (1:67-79)

    • John’s desert life (1:80)

  • C. Jesus’ Birth and Early Life (2:1-52)

    • Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem; Jesus is born (2:1-7)

    • Angels appear to shepherds in the fields (2:8-20)

    • Jesus circumcised and presented at the temple (2:21-24)

    • Simeon privileged to see the Christ (2:25-35)

    • Anna speaks about the child (2:36-38)

    • Return to Nazareth (2:39, 40)

    • Twelve-year-old Jesus at the temple (2:41-50)

    • Jesus returns to Nazareth with his parents (2:51, 52)

  • D. Events Leading Up to Jesus’ Earthly Ministry (3:1–4:13)

    • Starting point of John’s ministry (3:1, 2)

    • John preaches baptism (3:3-20)

    • The baptism of Jesus (3:21, 22)

    • Genealogy of Jesus Christ (3:23-38)

    • Jesus rejects the Devil’s temptations (4:1-13)

  • E. Early Part of Jesus’ Ministry, Mainly in Galilee (4:14–6:11)

    • Jesus begins preaching in Galilee (4:14, 15)

    • Jesus rejected in Nazareth (4:16-30)

    • Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum (4:31-37)

    • Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law and others (4:38-41)

    • Crowds find Jesus in an isolated place (4:42-44)

    • Miraculous catch of fish; first disciples called (5:1-11)

    • Jesus heals a man full of leprosy (5:12-16)

    • Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic (5:17-26)

    • Levi called by Jesus to be his follower (5:27-32)

    • Question regarding fasting (5:33-39)

    • Jesus, “Lord of the Sabbath” (6:1-5)

    • Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (6:6-11)

  • F. Selection of the 12 Apostles; the Sermon on the Mount (6:12-49)

    • The 12 apostles chosen (6:12-16)

    • Jesus teaches and heals large crowds (6:17-19)

    • Happinesses and woes (6:20-26)

    • Love for enemies; Golden Rule; be merciful (6:27-36)

    • Stop judging (6:37-42)

    • Tree known by its fruit (6:43-45)

    • Well-built house versus house without solid foundation (6:46-49)

  • G. Continuation of Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee and Beyond (7:1–9:50)

    • Faith of an army officer (7:1-10)

    • Jesus resurrects a widow’s son in Nain (7:11-17)

    • John the Baptist asks about “the Coming One” (7:18-23)

    • Jesus praises John the Baptist (7:24-30)

    • Unresponsive generation condemned (7:31-35)

    • A sinful woman pours oil on Jesus’ feet (7:36-50)

    • Women accompany Jesus (8:1-3)

    • Illustration of the sower (8:4-8)

    • Why Jesus used illustrations (8:9, 10)

    • Jesus explains illustration of the sower (8:11-15)

    • A lamp not to be covered (8:16-18)

    • Jesus’ mother and brothers (8:19-21)

    • Jesus calms storm on the Sea of Galilee (8:22-25)

    • Jesus heals a demonized man; allows demons to enter swine (8:26-39)

    • Jairus’ daughter resurrected; a woman touches Jesus’ outer garment (8:40-56)

    • The Twelve instructed for the ministry (9:1-6)

    • Herod perplexed by Jesus (9:7-9)

    • Jesus feeds about 5,000 men (9:10-17)

    • Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ (9:18-20)

    • Jesus foretells his death and resurrection (9:21, 22)

    • Requirements of true discipleship (9:23-27)

    • Jesus’ transfiguration (9:28-36)

    • Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy (9:37-43a)

    • Jesus foretells his death a second time (9:43b-45)

    • Disciples argue about who is the greatest (9:46-48)

    • “Whoever is not against you is for you” (9:49, 50)

  • H. Jesus Heads Toward Jerusalem; His Later Ministry, Mainly in Judea and Perea (9:51–19:27)

    • A Samaritan village rejects Jesus (9:51-56)

    • Requirements for following Jesus (9:57-62)

    • Jesus sends out the 70 (10:1-12)

    • Woe to unrepentant Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum (10:13-16)

    • The 70 return (10:17-20)

    • Jesus praises his Father for favoring the humble (10:21-24)

    • Illustration of the neighborly Samaritan (10:25-37)

    • Jesus visits Martha and Mary (10:38-42)

    • Jesus teaches the model prayer (11:1-4)

    • Illustration of the persistent friend (11:5-13)

    • Jesus explains that demons are expelled by God’s finger (11:14-23)

    • Jesus describes return of unclean spirit (11:24-26)

    • True happiness explained (11:27, 28)

    • Sign of Jonah (11:29-32)

    • Lamp of the body is the eye (11:33-36)

    • Jesus dines with a Pharisee; declares woes on religious hypocrites (11:37-54)

    • “Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees” (12:1-3)

    • Fear God, not men (12:4-7)

    • Acknowledging union with Christ (12:8-12)

    • Illustration of the foolish rich man (12:13-21)

    • “Stop being anxious about your lives” (12:22-31)

    • “Have no fear, little flock” (12:32-34)

    • Watchfulness (12:35-40)

    • Identifying the faithful steward and the characteristics of an unfaithful slave (12:41-48)

    • Not peace, but division (12:49-53)

    • Need to examine the times (12:54-56)

    • Settling accounts (12:57-59)

    • Repent or be destroyed (13:1-5)

    • Illustration of the barren fig tree (13:6-9)

    • Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath (13:10-17)

    • Illustrations of the mustard grain and the leaven (13:18-21)

    • Effort needed to enter through the narrow door (13:22-30)

    • Herod, “that fox” (13:31-33)

    • Jesus laments over Jerusalem (13:34, 35)

    • Jesus heals a man with dropsy on the Sabbath (14:1-6)

    • Be a humble guest (14:7-11)

    • Invite those who cannot repay you (14:12-14)

    • Illustration of the invited ones who begged off (14:15-24)

    • The cost of discipleship (14:25-33)

    • Salt that loses its strength (14:34, 35)

    • Illustration of the lost sheep (15:1-7)

    • Illustration of the lost coin (15:8-10)

    • Illustration of the lost son (15:11-32)

    • Illustration of the unrighteous steward (16:1-13)

    • The Law and God’s Kingdom (16:14-18)

    • Illustration of the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31)

    • Jesus teaches about stumbling, forgiveness, and faith (17:1-6)

    • Illustration of the slave who attends to his master’s needs (17:7-10)

    • Jesus heals ten lepers (17:11-19)

    • The coming of God’s Kingdom (17:20-37)

    • Illustration of the persistent widow (18:1-8)

    • Illustration of the Pharisee and the tax collector (18:9-14)

    • Jesus and the little children (18:15-17)

    • A rich ruler’s question regarding everlasting life (18:18-30)

    • Jesus again foretells his death and resurrection (18:31-34)

    • Jesus heals a blind beggar near Jericho (18:35-43)

    • Jesus visits the tax collector Zacchaeus (19:1-10)

    • Illustration of the ten minas (19:11-27)

  • I. Beginning of Jesus’ Final Week of Public Ministry in and Around Jerusalem (19:28–21:4)

    • Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (19:28-40)

    • Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (19:41-44)

    • Jesus cleanses the temple (19:45-48)

    • Jesus’ authority challenged (20:1-8)

    • Illustration of murderous vineyard cultivators (20:9-19)

    • God and Caesar (20:20-26)

    • Question about resurrection (20:27-40)

    • Is the Christ the son of David? (20:41-44)

    • Warning against the scribes (20:45-47)

    • Needy widow’s two small coins (21:1-4)

  • J. Jesus’ Great Prophecy About the Sign of What Was to Come (21:5-36)

    • Question about the sign; warning against being misled (21:5-9)

    • Features of the composite sign: wars, great earthquakes, pestilences, food shortages (21:10, 11)

    • Persecution foretold (21:12-19)

    • Jerusalem to be surrounded by armies; appointed times of the nations foretold (21:20-24)

    • The coming of the Son of man (21:25-28)

    • Illustration of the fig tree (21:29-31)

    • “This generation will by no means pass away” (21:32, 33)

    • ‘Never let your hearts become weighed down; keep awake’ (21:34-36)

  • K. Jesus’ Final Days in Jerusalem; His Arrest and Trial (21:37–23:25)

    • Jesus teaches in the temple (21:37, 38)

    • Priests plot to kill Jesus (22:1-6)

    • Preparations for the last Passover (22:7-13)

    • Jesus institutes the Lord’s Evening Meal (22:14-20)

    • “My betrayer is with me at the table” (22:21-23)

    • Heated dispute over who is the greatest (22:24-27)

    • Jesus’ covenant for a kingdom (22:28-30)

    • Peter’s denial foretold (22:31-34)

    • Need for preparedness; the two swords (22:35-38)

    • Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives (22:39-46)

    • Jesus is arrested (22:47-53)

    • Peter denies Jesus (22:54-62)

    • Jesus is mocked and made fun of (22:63-65)

    • Trial before the Sanhedrin (22:66-71)

    • Jesus stands before Pilate and Herod (23:1-25)

  • L. Jesus’ Execution, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension (23:26–24:53)

    • Jesus addresses the daughters of Jerusalem (23:26-31)

    • Jesus and two criminals are hung on stakes (23:32-42)

    • Jesus promises: “You will be with me in Paradise” (23:43)

    • Death of Jesus (23:44-49)

    • Burial of Jesus (23:50-56)

    • Women and Peter at the empty tomb (24:1-12)

    • On the road to Emmaus (24:13-35)

    • Jesus appears to the disciples (24:36-49)

    • Jesus ascends to heaven (24:50-53)