<P> Luke - Acts is a religio - political history of the Founder of the church and his successors, in both deeds and words . The author describes his book as a "narrative" (diegesis), rather than as a gospel, and implicitly criticises his predecessors for not giving their readers the speeches of Jesus and the Apostles, as such speeches were the mark of a "full" report, the vehicle through which ancient historians conveyed the meaning of their narratives . He seems to have taken as his model the works of two respected Classical authors, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who wrote a history of Rome, and the Jewish historian Josephus, author of a history of the Jews . All three authors anchor the histories of their respective peoples by dating the births of the founders (Romulus, Moses and Jesus) and narrate the stories of the founders' births from God, so that they are sons of God . Each founder taught authoritatively, appeared to witnesses after death, and ascended to heaven . Crucial aspects of the teaching of all three concerned the relationship between rich and poor and the question of whether "foreigners" were to be received into the people . </P> <P> The author used as his sources the gospel of Mark, the sayings collection called the Q source, and a collection of material called the L (for Luke) source . Mark, written around 70 AD, provided the narrative outline, but Mark contains comparatively little of Jesus' teachings . For these Luke turned to Q, which consisted mostly, although not exclusively, of "sayings". (Most scholars are reasonably sure that Q existed and that it can be reconstructed). Mark and Q account for about 64% of Luke . The remaining material, known as the L source, is of unknown origin and date . Most Q and L - source material is grouped in two clusters, Luke 6: 17--8: 3 and 9: 51--18: 14, and L - source material forms the first two section of the gospel (the preface and infancy and childhood narratives). </P> <P> Luke was written to be read aloud to a group of Jesus - followers gathered in a house to share the Lord's supper . The author assumes an educated Greek - speaking audience, but directs his attention to specifically Christian concerns rather than to the Greco - Roman world at large . He begins his gospel with a preface addressed to "Theophilus": the name means "Lover of God," and could be an individual or simply any Christian . Here he informs Theophilus of his intention, which is to lead his reader to certainty through an orderly account "of the events that have been fulfilled among us ." He did not, however, intend to provide Theophilus with a historical justification of the Christian faith--"did it happen?"--but to encourage faith--"what happened, and what does it all mean?" </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="1"> Detailed content of Luke </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 . Formal introduction </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> To Theophilus (1: 1--4) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2 . Jesus' birth and boyhood </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Zacharias (1: 5--25) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Annunciation (1: 26--45) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Magnificat (1: 46--56) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nativity of St John the Baptist (1: 57--80) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Benedictus (1: 68--79) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Census of Quirinius (2: 1--5) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nativity of Jesus (2: 6--7) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Annunciation to the shepherds (2: 8--15) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adoration of the Shepherds (2: 16--20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Circumcision of Jesus (2: 21--40) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td>: Nunc dimittis (2: 29--32) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Finding in the Temple (2: 41--52) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 3 . Jesus' baptism and temptation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ministry of John the Baptist (3: 1--20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Baptism (3: 21--22) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Genealogy (3: 23--38) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Temptation (4: 1--13) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 4. Jesus' ministry in Galilee </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Good News (4: 14--15) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rejection in Nazareth (4: 16--30) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Capernaum (4: 31--44) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Miraculous catch of fish (5: 1--11) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Leper and Paralytic (5: 12--26) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Calling of Matthew (5: 27--32) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> On fasting (5: 33--35) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> New Wine into Old Wineskins (5: 36--39) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lord of the Sabbath (6: 1--5) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Man with withered hand (6: 6--11) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles (6: 12--16) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sermon on the Plain (6: 17--49) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Centurion's servant (7: 1--10) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Young man from Nain (7: 11--17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Messengers from John the Baptist (7: 18--35) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Anointing (7: 36--50) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Women companions of Jesus (8: 1--3) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Sower (8: 4--8, 11--15) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Purpose of parables (8: 9--10) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lamp under a bushel (8: 16--18; 11: 33) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jesus' true relatives (8: 19--21) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Calming the storm (8: 22--25) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Demon named Legion (8: 26--39) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Raising of Jairus' daughter (8: 40--56) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Instructions for the Twelve (9: 1--6) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Death of John the Baptist (9: 7--9) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Feeding of the 5000 (9: 10--17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Confession of Peter (9: 18--20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jesus predicts his death (9: 21--27, 44--45; 18: 31--34) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Transfiguration (9: 28--36) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Possessed boy (9: 37--43) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Little Children (9: 46--48) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Those not against are for (9: 49--50) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 . Jesus' teaching on the journey to Jerusalem </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> On the road to Jerusalem (9: 51) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Samaritan rejection (9: 52--56) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Foxes have holes (9: 57--58) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Let the dead bury the dead (9: 59--60) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Don't look back (9: 61--62) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Commission of the Seventy (10: 1--12, 10: 16--20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cursing Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum (10: 13--15) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Praising the Father (10: 21--24) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Great Commandment (10: 25--28) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Good Samaritan (10: 29--37) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Visiting Martha and Mary (10: 38--42) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lord's Prayer (11: 1--4) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Friend at Night (11: 5--13) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Blind - mute man (11: 14--19) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Exorcising by the Finger of God (11: 20) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Strong man (11: 21--22) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Those not with me are against me (11: 23) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Return of the unclean spirit (11: 24--26) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Those who hear the word and keep it (11: 27--28) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Request for a sign (11: 29--32) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Eye and Light (11: 34--36) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Woes of the Pharisees (11: 37--54) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Veiled and Unveiled (12: 1--3) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Whom to fear (12: 4--7) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Unforgivable sin (12: 8--12) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Disputed inheritance (12: 13--15) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Rich Fool and Birds (12: 16--32) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sell your possessions (12: 33--34) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Faithful Servant (12: 35--48) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Not peace, but a sword (12: 49--53; 14: 25--27) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Knowing the times (12: 54--56) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Settle with your accuser (12: 57--59) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tower of Siloam (13: 1--5) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the barren fig tree (13: 6--9) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Infirm woman (13: 10--17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Mustard Seed and Parable of the Leaven (13: 18--21) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Narrow Gate (13: 22--30) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lament over Jerusalem (13: 31--35) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Man with dropsy (14: 1--6) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Wedding Feast, Parable of the Great Banquet, Counting the cost, Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin, Parable of the Prodigal Son, Parable of the Unjust Steward (14: 7--16: 13) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Not one stroke of a letter (16: 14--17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> On divorce (16: 18) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rich man and Lazarus (16: 19--31) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Curse those who set traps (17: 1--6) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Master and Servant (17: 7--10) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cleansing ten lepers (17: 11--19) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Coming Kingdom of God (17: 20--37) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parables of the Unjust judge, Pharisee and Publican (18: 1--14) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Little Children (18: 15--17) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Rich young man (18: 18--30) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Blind near Jericho (18: 35--43) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Zacchaeus (19: 1--9) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Son of Man came to save (19: 10) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Talents (19: 11--27) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 . Jesus' Jerusalem conflicts, crucifixion, and resurrection </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Entry into Jerusalem (19: 28--44) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cleansing of the Temple (19: 45--48) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Authority questioned (20: 1--8) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (20: 9--19) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Render unto Caesar (20: 20--26) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Resurrection of the dead (20: 27--40) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Is the Messiah the son of David? (20: 41--44) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Denouncing scribes (20: 45--47) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lesson of the widow's mite (21: 1--4) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Olivet Discourse (21: 5--38) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Plot to kill Jesus (22: 1--2) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bargain of Judas (22: 3--6) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Last Supper (22: 7--23) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dispute about Greatness (22: 24--30) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Denial of Peter (22: 31--34, 55--62) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sell your cloak and buy a sword (22: 35--38) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Agony in the Garden (22: 39--46) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kiss of Judas (22: 47--53) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Arrest (22: 54) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Guards mock Jesus (22: 63--65) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Before the High Priest (22: 66--71) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pilate's court (23: 1--7, 13--25) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jesus at Herod's court (23: 8--12) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Simon of Cyrene (23: 26) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Crucifixion (23: 27--49) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Entombment (23: 50--56) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Empty tomb (24: 1--12) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Resurrection appearances (24: 13--43) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Great Commission (24: 44--49) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ascension of Jesus (24: 50--53) This box: <Ul> <Li> view </Li> <Li> talk </Li> <Li> edit </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who was the book of luke written for
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