LUKE’S GOSPEL
Luke wrote the gospel and the Acts of the Apostles addressing Theophilus, a Roman official who engaged in Paul’s trial by Emperor Caesar in Rome. Luke did this, “after investigating everything accurately anew … so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received” (Lk 1:3-4). Luke’s goal was to convince the Romans to acquit Paul and motivate his readers to receive God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. He structured the gospel with a prologue (1:1-4), the infancy narrative (1:5–2:52), the preparation for the public ministry (3:1–4:13), the ministry in Galilee (4:14–9:50), the journey to Jerusalem (Travel Narrative) (9:51–19:27), the teaching ministry in Jerusalem (19:28–21:38), the passion narrative (22:1–23:56), and the resurrection narrative (24:1–53).
The central section of Luke’s gospel (Lk 9:51-19:27) is the travel description of Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. It starts by saying, “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51). This section depicts the actions and teachings of Jesus on his way to the Temple. When he drove out a demon from the mute demoniac, the public and the Pharisees had diverse reactions. Jesus affirmed his divinity and invited his listeners to join his kingdom to defend themselves from the snares of the evil.