INTRODUCTORY NOTE

The "Gospel according to Luke" was probably written not far from the year 70 A. D. It is quoted in the first half of the second century, and in a fragment dated about 175 A. D. we find the earliest extant ascription of the authorship to Luke. The third Gospel, says the so-called "Canon of Muraturi," "Luhe compiled in his own name from report, the physician whom Paul took with him after the ascension of Christ, as it were, for a traveling companion; however he did not himself see the Lord in the flesh, and hence begins his account with the birth of John." Eusebius states that Luke was born at Antioch, and Paul seems to imply that he was a Gentile.

The sources from which the compilation was made are still a matter of dispute. Much of the narrative of events seems to be drawn from "Mark"; of the speeches, from that collection of the discourses of Christ which is supposed by scholars to lie behind the gospel of "Matthew." But the author of "Luke" had peculiar sources not used by the other evangelists; and from these come some of the most precious contents of this gospel.

There has been much discussion on the question as to the existence in "Luke" of a Jewish or of a Gentile bias. Those who find it markedly Jewish in tone incline to distrust the tradition ascribing its composition to the Gentile physician; those who regard it as the Pauline gospel naturally find it easier to associate it with the companion of the apostle to the Gentiles. The question is closely connected with the authorship of "The Acts of the Apostles," a continuation of "Luke" by the same hand, which is generally admitted to contain descriptions of Paul's travels recorded by his companion.

The author, whether Luke or another, opens by stating his purpose to be to trace accurately and in order "those matters which have been fulfilled among us." It would be an impertinence to comment on the importance to mankind of the carrying out of his purpose-.

THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO LUKE

w lFORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled1 among us, [2] even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, [.?] it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; [4] that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things' wherein1 thou wast instructed.

[5] There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife 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. [7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well* stricken in years.

[8] Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, [$] according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple* of the Lord and burn incense. [r0] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. [//] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [/j] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication 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 he shall drink no wine nor strong* drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. [/7] And he shall go' before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. [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. [/<?] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. [20] And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. [21] And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while* he tarried 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:5 and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb, [2j] And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

[24] And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, [25] Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men.

[26] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly" favored, the Lord is with thee." [2p] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. [j0] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor" with God. [31] And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [j2] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [jj] and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for" ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? [^5] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the" holy thing which is begotten* shall be called the Son of God. [36] And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was" called barren. [j7] For no word from God shall be void of power. [,?£] 'And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid" of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

[jp] And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; [40] and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. [41] And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; [42] and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, 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 unto me? [44] For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. [45] And blessed is she that believed:" for there shall be a fulfil"Or, endued with grace.

ment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. [46] And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord, [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid:"

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. [50] And his mercy is unto generations and generations

On them that fear him. [5/] He hath showed strength with his arm;

He hath scattered the proud in" the imagination of their heart. [52] He hath put down princes from their thrones,

And hath exalted them of low degree. [53] The hungry he hath filled with good things;

And the rich he hath sent empty away. [54] He hath given help to Israel his servant,

That he might remember mercy [55] (As he spake unto our fathers)

Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. [56] And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.

[57] Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. [58] And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. [5p] And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. [60] And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. [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, what he would have him called. [<5j] And he asked for a writing tablet, 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, blessing

"Or, by.