The Crossway Classic Commentaries

Luke

by

J. C. Ryle

Series Editors

Alister McGrath and J. I. Packer

CROSSWAY BOOKS

A PUBLISHING MINISTRY OF GOOD NEWS PUBLISHERS

WHEATON, ILLINOIS • NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND

Luke

Copyright 1997 by Watermark

Published by Crossway Books

A division of Good News Publishers

1300 Crescent Street

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ryle, J. C. 1816–1900.

Luke / by J. C. Ryle.

p. cm.—(Crossway classic commentaries) (Expository thoughts on the Gospel)

1. Bible. N. T. Luke—Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: Ryle J. C. (John Charles). 1816–1900. Expository thoughts on the gospels.

BS2595.3.R94

1997

226.4’07—dc21

97–17281

First British edition 1997

Production and Printing in the United States of America for CROSSWAY BOOKS

Norton Street, Nottingham, England NG7 3HR

All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 1-85684-145-6

Contents

Series Preface

Introduction

Preface to the first edition

Chapter 1

St. Luke’s general introduction to his Gospel (1:1–4)

Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Zechariah’s vision (1:5–12)

The angel announces John the Baptist’s birth and describes his ministry (1:13–17)

Zechariah’s unbelief and punishment (1:18–25)

The angel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary (1:26–33)

The Virgin Mary’s question to the angel, and his answer (1:34–38)

The Virgin Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (1:39–45)

The Virgin Mary’s song of praise (1:46–56)

The birth of John the Baptist (1:57–66)

Zechariah’s prophecy and song of praise (1:67–80)

Chapter 2

Christ’s birth at Bethlehem (2:1–7)

The angel’s announcement about Christ’s birth to the shepherds (2:8–20)

The circumcision and presentation of Christ in the temple (2:21–24)

Simeon’s praise and prophecy (2:25–35)

Anna the prophetess (2:36–40)

Christ found sitting among the teachers (2:41–52)

Chapter 3

The beginning of our Lord’s earthly ministry; John the Baptist’s preaching (3:1–6)

John the Baptist; how he spoke to those who came to listen to him (3:7–14)

The effect of John the Baptist’s ministry; his testimony to Christ; his ...