Luke 1:1-25
Background
THEOPHILUS: Luke! Are you still in town? I thought you were already on your trip to Judea.
LUKE: I will be, just as soon as I turn my patients over to their new doctor.
THEOPHILUS: I know I’ll be looking forward to your report. This new sect, the Way, has really been shaking things up here in Rome. Like you, there has been a lot of things we’ve heard from our parents, and some of the older Jews in town.
LUKE: It’s about time someone did a detailed report. Can you believe that Nero is blaming any little thing in the kingdom that happens on Christians?
THEOPHILUS: I read this week where Tacitus wrote about them, saying, “a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.”
LUKE: Right, and I heard how he referred to Jesus as “Christus.” To hear him tell it, he thinks that’s another name for Jesus.
THEOPHILUS: But he does seem to have it right that this new Way of our eligion gets its name from Christus, a man who suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of Pontius Pilate.
LUKE: Well, he’s right in that, but wrong in the matter Regarding having a most mischievous superstition stopped for the moment. The movement is taking a resurgence both in Judea and Rome.
THEOPHILUS: I understand there has been all manner of letters and writings about this new way circulating through the land.
LUKE: There certainly are, and that’s why I’m making my trip. With all the challenges to Jesus, his resurrection, his miracles, signs, and teachings, someone needs to put down a written report to make sure his account is as true and accurate as possible.
THEOPHILUS: Well if anybody can do it doctor Luke, you can. I’ll be looking forward to what you find. Write me often as you make your journey.
LUKE: I will brother. Blessings and peace until we meet again Theophilus.
The prologue
Luke: What a day this has been. I can’t believe what I’ve been able to verify today. I think I better get this first letter set off to Theophilus, and the people back home.
(Luke writes, and reads narrative as if in voiceover.)
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Luke: (speaking to himself) I can hardly believe the eye witness who I spoke with today. Talk about being there from the beginning to witness Jesus life. There I was, in Mary’s house….
(fade out)
Luke: (fade in) …so tell me again about how it all started.
Mary: I think most people are aware of the ministry that Jesus had, and that his was connected to John’s.
Luke: You mean John the Immerser, right?
Mary: Yes. Before Jesus began his ministry, John was in the wilderness to preach, and immerse any who would come out with a repentant heart.
Luke: I did know about that. But you were saying that Jesus and John had a different relationship. Can you tell me more about that?
Mary: I’d be glad to. You know Luke, I’ve been storing up all this in my heart for years. My family line is from Judah, but on my mother’s side, well, we’re related to a clan of the high priests. As for when it all started…
(Mary continues)
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Luke: Now hold on just a moment Mary. What does that mean?
Mary: What? Being barren? Poor Elizabeth, she never could have children and it was one of her greatest sorrows…
Luke: No, no, not that. I know what it means to be barren. I can imagine how it impacted her emotionally. You said something else, that she and Zechariah were “righteous before God,” and “walking blamelessly.”
Mary: Well, they weren’t perfect. Nobody is. But they were so devoted to following God’s laws. They loved the Lord, and tried their best to obey him. It was just a shame that God never saw fit to give her any children.
Luke: At least that’s what everybody thought.
Mary: Right, and let me tell you it was a surprise to everybody….
(Mary continues)
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him,
Gabriel: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.4 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Mary: And Zechariah said to the angel,
Zechariah: “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
Mary: And the angel answered him,
Gabriel: “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
Mary: And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,
Elizabeth: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Credit
Scriptts in the Luke audio drama series are property of Life Truth, copyright 2019, updated at the date of reposting by Life Truth.
Written permission is required from the author for use in print, digital or audio formats.
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
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