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Luke, in Greek Lukas a briefer form of Lucanos, is the only one of the four Evangelists who was probably not a Jew. It has been suggested that he appears in his own narrative as one of the "seventy" sent out by Jesus, and also as one of the two disciples who supped with the Risen Christ at Emmaus; but Luke himself states that he does not write as an eyewitness of events. All that we really know of him is gathered from his Gospel and his book "The Acts of the Apostles," also Philem., 24; 2 Tim., 4, 11; Col., 4, 14. From these we learn that he was a physician, an educated man, a writer of more classic Greek than Matthew or Mark, and tradition makes him a painter. He was an early convert and teacher, a chosen companion and close friend of St. Paul in the latter's journeyings, a comrade also to St. Peter and other of the early leaders of the Church. His gospel was apparently written about 60 or 70 A.D.

The faith of Luke seems more broadminded than that of Matthew and Mark; he knows no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the service of Christ. From this and other indications his Gospel is usually regarded as voicing the views of his great leader, Paul. His book incorporates most of the material found in the two preceding Gospels and adds to this much detail bearing on the birth of Christ, and the period of His resurrection, including the wonderful account of the Ascension. Chiefly, however, this Gospel is separated from the others by the many additional parables it contains.

Chapter 1

1. The preface of Luke to his whole gospel. 5 The conception of John the Baptist, 26 and of Christ. 39 The prophecy of Elisabeth, and of Mary, concerning Christ. 57 The nativity and circumcision of John. 67 The prophecy of Zacharias, both of Christ, 76 and of John.

ORASMUCH 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,'

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4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

This Theophilus is wholly unknown.

1595

1596

LUKE I-ZACHARIAS STRICKEN

5¶There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, 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 ordinance of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

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.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

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.

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.

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.

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.

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

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.

23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

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Christ Feasts with Matthew

BY PAUL VERONESE, THE VENETIAN MASTER, DIED 1588.

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“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them."-Luke, 5, 29.

Y

ET another point of divergence between the teach

ings of Christ and of the Jewish priesthood, was emphasized immediately after the calling of Matthew. The newly chosen disciple prepared a feast, perhaps in rejoicing at the life opening before him, perhaps to proclaim to all the publicans that in the new religion they would be welcomed side by side with other, more honored men. At this feast were gathered "many publicans and sinners;" and to it came also Jesus and His disciples. This scandalized the Pharisees, that a teacher kept such company; but Jesus answered them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick."

Also some disciples of John the Forerunner remonstrated with Him; for the Forerunner, like the priests of Jerusalem, had set much store by fasting and self-privations. To these more honest questioners, Jesus answered announcing His own glory. While He was upon earth was not a time for men to fast and mourn. "Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?"

"But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."

More and more there began to appear in Christ's teachings warning of the sad fate in store for Him and for His followers.

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