Gospel of Luke

==Structure and content==
===Structure===
Following the author's preface addressed to his patron and the two birth narratives (John the Baptist and Jesus), the gospel opens in Galilee and moves gradually to its climax in Jerusalem:{{sfn|Carroll|2012|pp=15–16}}
# A brief preface addressed to Theophilus stating the author's aims;
# Birth and infancy narratives for both Jesus and John the Baptist, interpreted as the dawn of the promised era of Israel's salvation;
# Preparation for Jesus' messianic mission: John's prophetic mission, his baptism of Jesus, and the testing of Jesus' vocation;
# The beginning of Jesus' mission in Galilee, and the hostile reception there;
# The central section: the journey to Jerusalem, where Jesus knows he must meet his destiny as God's prophet and Messiah;
# His mission in Jerusalem, culminating in confrontation with the leaders of the Jewish Temple;
# His last supper with his most intimate followers, followed by his arrest, interrogation, and crucifixion;
# God's validation of Jesus as Christ: events from the first Easter to the Ascension, showing Jesus' death to be divinely ordained, in keeping with both scriptural promise and the nature of messiahship, and anticipating the story of Acts.{{NoteTag|For studies of the literary structure of this Gospel, see recent contributions of Bailey, Goulder and Talbert, in particular for their readings of Luke's Central Section. (Almost all scholars believe the section begins at 9.51;  strong case, however, can be put for 9.43b.) Then the introductory pieces to the opening and closing parts that frame the teaching of the Central Section would exhibit a significant dualism: compare 9.43b–45 and 18.31–35. The Central Section would then be defined as 9.43b–19.48, 'Jesus Journey to Jerusalem and its Temple'. Between the opening part ('His Setting out', 9.43b–10.24) and the closing part ('His Arriving', 18.31–19.48) lies a chiasm of parts 1–5,C,5'–1', 'His Teachings on the Way': 1, 10.25–42 Inheriting eternal life: law and love; 2, 11.1–13 Prayer: right praying, persistence, Holy Spirit is given; 3, 11.14–12.12 The Kingdom of God: what is internal is important; 4, 12.13–48 Earthly and Heavenly riches; the coming of the Son of Man; 5, 12.49–13.9 Divisions, warning and prudence, repentance; C, 13.10–14.24 a Sabbath healing, kingdom and entry (13.10–30), Jesus is to die in Jerusalem, his lament for it (13.31–35), a Sabbath healing, banqueting in the kingdom (14.1–24); 5', 14.25–15.32 Divisions, warning and prudence, repentance; 4', 16.1–31 Earthly and Heavenly riches: the coming judgement; 3', 17.1–37 The kingdom of God is 'within', not coming with signs; 2', 18.1–17 Prayer: persistence, right praying, receiving the kingdom; 1', 18.18–30 Inheriting eternal life: law and love. (All the parts 1–5 and 5'–1' are constructed of three parts in the style of ABB'.)}}

===Parallel structure of Luke–Acts===
The structure of Acts parallels the structure of the gospel, demonstrating the universality of the divine plan and the shift of authority from Jerusalem to Rome:{{sfn|Boring|2012|p=569}}

*The gospel – the acts of Jesus:
** The presentation of the child Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem
** Jesus' forty days in the desert
** Jesus in Samaria/Judea
** Jesus in the Decapolis
** Jesus receives the Holy Spirit
** Jesus preaches with power (the power of the spirit)
** Jesus heals the sick
** Death of Jesus
** The apostles are sent to preach to all nations
*The acts of the apostles:
** Jerusalem
** Forty days before the Ascension
** Samaria
** Asia Minor
** Pentecost: Christ's followers receive the spirit
** The apostles preach with the power of the spirit
** The apostles heal the sick
** Death of Stephen, the first martyr for Christ
** Paul preaches in Rome