Luke 1:1

Explanatory Preface

1:1 Now ¹  many have undertaken to compile an account ²  of the things ³  that have been fulfilled ⁴  among us,

Luke 1:4

1:4 so that you may know for certain ⁵  the things you were taught. ⁶ 

Luke 2:18

2:18 and all who heard it were astonished ⁷  at what the shepherds said.

Luke 4:10

4:10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ⁸ 

Luke 4:37

4:37 So ⁹  the news ¹⁰  about him spread into all areas of the region. ¹¹ 

Luke 6:28

6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat ¹²  you.

Luke 7:18

Jesus and John the Baptist

7:18 John’s ¹³  disciples informed him about all these things. So ¹⁴  John called ¹⁵  two of his disciples

Luke 12:26

12:26 So if ¹⁶  you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about ¹⁷  the rest?

Luke 24:14

24:14 They ¹⁸  were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.

[1:1]  ¹ tn Grk “Since” or “Because.” This begins a long sentence that extends through v. 4. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, the Greek sentence has been divided up into shorter English sentences in the translation.

[1:1]  ² tn This is sometimes translated “narrative,” but the term itself can refer to an oral or written account. It is the verb “undertaken” which suggests a written account, since it literally is “to set one’s hand” to something (BDAG 386 s.v. ἐπιχειρέω). “Narrative” is too specific, denoting a particular genre of work for the accounts that existed in the earlier tradition. Not all of that material would have been narrative.

[1:1]  ³ tn Or “events.”

[1:1]  ⁴ tn Or “have been accomplished.” Given Luke’s emphasis on divine design (e.g., Luke 24:43-47) a stronger sense (“fulfilled”) is better than a mere reference to something having taken place (“accomplished”).

[1:4]  ⁵ tn Or “know the truth about”; or “know the certainty of.” The issue of the context is psychological confidence; Luke’s work is trying to encourage Theophilus. So in English this is better translated as “know for certain” than “know certainty” or “know the truth,” which sounds too cognitive. “Certain” assumes the truth of the report. On this term, see Acts 2:36; 21:34; 22:30; and 25:26. The meaning “have assurance concerning” is also possible here.

[1:4]  ⁶ tn Or “you heard about.” This term can refer merely to a report of information (Acts 21:24) or to instruction (Acts 18:25). The scope of Luke’s Gospel as a whole, which calls for perseverance in the faith and which assumes much knowledge of the OT, suggests Theophilus had received some instruction and was probably a believer.

[2:18]  ⁹ tn Grk “marveled.” It is a hard word to translate with one term in this context. There is a mixture of amazement and pondering at work in considering the surprising events here. See Luke 1:21, 63; 2:33.

[4:10]  ¹³ sn A quotation from Ps 91:11 by the devil. This was not so much an incorrect citation as a use in a wrong context (a misapplication of the passage).

[4:37]  ¹⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate resultative nature of the action.

[4:37]  ¹⁸ tn That is, “information concerning a person or an event – ‘report, news, word, information’” (L&N 33.211).

[4:37]  ¹⁹ sn Given Luke 4:31, the phrase the region is a reference to Galilee.

[6:28]  ²¹ tn The substantival participle ἐπηρεαζόντων (ephreazontwn), sometimes translated “those who abuse” (NRSV), is better rendered “those who mistreat,” a more general term (see L&N 88.129).

[7:18]  ²⁵ tn Grk “And John’s.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. This is a reference to John the Baptist as the following context makes clear.

[7:18]  ²⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that John’s action was a result of the report he had heard.

[7:18]  ²⁷ tn Grk “And calling two of his disciples, John sent.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[12:26]  ²⁹ tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.

[12:26]  ³⁰ tn Or “why are you anxious for.”

[24:14]  ³³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.