Luke 1:5-80

The gospel of Luke was penned by the only Gentile to contribute to the New Testament scriptures, who was a Greek, and a disciple of Paul.   Luke writes like a journalist, who goes and interviews all of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.  Some scholars have speculated that Luke wrote this gospel, and the book of Acts as written statements to be presented at Paul’s defense before Caesar.  Luke is very detailed, and was also a trained physician, so he was the best educated of all the gospel writers.

Luke tells the story of John the Baptist’s birth to Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age.  Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary, and John was born 6 months before Jesus.  Mary went and visited Elizabeth for the final 3 months of her pregnancy, and John was filled with the Holy Spirit when he was 6 months in the womb.  Elizabeth understands that Mary will be the mother of the Messiah, and Zechariah prophesies concerning the ministry of their son John.  After John is raised from infancy, he lived in the desert until he was called by God to preach about the coming of Christ to Israel.