Autors

Autora vārds šajā grāmatā nav minēts, bet daudzas lietas norāda uz to, ka tas ir Lūkas. Lūkas ev. un Ap.d. gr. ir saistītas grāmatas, abas adresētas vienam cilvēkam - Teofīlam, un otrā grāmata atsaucas uz pirmo grāmatu (Ap.d. 1:1). Tā kā atsevišķas daļas Ap.d. gr. lieto personu vietniekvārdu "mēs" (Ap.d. 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28,16), tad tas norāda uz to, ka šo grāmatu autors bija kopā ar Pāvilu aprakstīto notikumu laikā. No iespējamajiem kandidātiem, kas varētu būt šīs grāmatas sarakstījis, Lūkas ir visiespējamākais kandidāts (Lūka, 2.Tim. 4:11; "mīļais ārsts Lūka", Kol. 4:14; darba biedrs, Filem. 24).

Iespējams, ka Lūkas bija nejūds (pagāns), labi izglītots grieķu kultūrā, ārsts, ap. Pāvila pavadonis dažādos laika posmos sākot no ap. Pāvila 2.misijas ceļojuma līdz viņa apcietinājumam Romā (Ap.d. 28:16). Viņš bija uzticīgs Pāvila draugs, kas palika kopā ar Pāvilu tad, kad citi bija Pāvilu atstājuši (2.Tim. 4:11)

Lūkas, ārsts. Lai gan no tā vārdu krājuma, kuru lieto Ap.d. gr. autors, nevar pierādīt, ka tas bijis ārsts, tie vārdi, kurus viņš lieto, izglītība, kuru atspoguļo viņa rakstītais, pieļauj to, ka autors ir ārsts (28:6 "uztūks" - lietots parastais medicīniskais termins iekaisuma apzīmēšanai; JD to lieto vienīgi Lūkas). Protams, ka 1.gs. ārstam nebija īpašs medicīnisku vārdu krājums, kā tas ir šodien, bet atsevišķu vārdu lietošana Lk. ev. un Ap.d. gr. liek domāt, ka kāds ārsts varētu būt šo grāmatu autors. Jāatceras, ka Pāvils lieto terminu "ārsts", runājot par Lūku (Kol. 4:14).

Adresāti

Šis evaņģēlijs ir adresēts Teofīlam (Lk. 1:3), kura vārds nozīmē "Dieva mīlētājs". Ir uzskats, ka šis evaņģēlijs nav adresēts vienam cilvēkam, bet visiem, kas mīl Dievu. Tomēr tas, ka Teofīls uzrunāts kā cienījamais (1:3), norāda, ka runa ir par vienu cilvēku, kā arī ka šis cilvēks bijis Romas valsts ierēdnis vai vismaz augsti stāvošs un bagāts cilvēks.

Sarakstīšanas nolūks

Evaņģēlijs bija domāts kā mācība Teofīlam (1:4) un arī tiem, kuru starpā šī grāmata tiktu lietota. Protams, evaņģēlijs bija domāts visiem kristiešiem. Ja ņemam vērā to, ka Lūkas bija ciešs ap. Pāvila līdzgaitnieks (pagānu apustulis), tad tās vietas, kuras šajā evaņģēlijā runā par to, ka Jēzus ir visu cilvēku Pestītājs, ir labs atbalsts ap. Pāvila darbībai pagānu starpā.

Varētu būt vēl viens liels iemesls šī evaņģēlija sarakstīšanai, proti, Pāvila aizstāvībai Romā. Lk. ev. un Ap.d. gr. ir viena autora darbs, kas šo darbu ir sarakstījis 2 rakstu rituļos (šo raksturu rituļu materiāls parasti bija tik liels, ka uz tā derētu viena no šīm grāmatām; tāpēc arī ir divas grāmatas: Lk. ev. un Ap.d., jo tās nesatilpa vienā ritulī). Ap.d. gr. beidzas ar laiku pirms Pāvila tiesas, un gan Lk. ev., gan Ap.d. gr. rādīts, ka Romas varas pārstāvji nesaskatīja neko sliktu kristietībā. Tāpēc iespējams, ka Lk. ev., kopā ar Ap.d. gr., bija rakstīti arī ar nolūku, lai Pāvila tiesātājiem būtu liecība par to, ka kristietība, kuru Jēzus iesāka (Lk. ev.) un kuras izplatīšanā Pāvils bija tik dedzīgi iesaistīts (Ap.d. gr.) nebija drauds Romas varai. Var būt, ka Teofilam bija kāda augsta, ietekmīga loma Romas varā, - to gan nezinām.

Sarakstīšanas laiks

Ir izteikti dažādi minējumi par šī evaņģēlija sarakstīšanas laiku. Ja pieturamies pie tā, ka Lk. ev. un Ap.d. gr. ir vienoti darbi, kuri sarakstīti pirms Pāvila tiesāšanas Romā, tad tas ir pirms Pāvila nāves, kas tiek datēta ar 64. vai 65.gadu.

Lūkas evaņģēlija īpašās iezīmes

  1. Lūkas evaņģēlijs sākas ar plašu prologu (Lk. 1. un 2.nod.). Tas satur informāciju, kas nav atrodama citos evņģēlijos.
  2. Lūkas evaņģēlijs atspoguļo tā laika vēsturisko kontekstu. Pieminēti ķēniņš Hērods, imperatori Augusts un Tiberijs. Jāņa Kristītāja mācība ļaudīm, muitniekiem un kareivjiem (Lk. 3,10-14) dod ieskatu tā laika sociālajā situācijā.
  3. Lūkas evaņģēlijs uzsver pielūgsmi un lūgšanu. Lūkas evaņģēlijs sākas un beidzas ar pielūgsmes ainām (1:8; 24:53). 1. un 2.nod. daudz Dieva slavēšana. Lk. ev. vairāk nekā citos evaņģēlijos rakstīts, ka Jēzus lūdza Dievu. Piem., 3:21, kristībās; 5:16, tuksnesī; 6:12, pirms apustuļu izraudzīšanas; 9:18, pirms jautājuma par to, kas Viņš ir; 9:28-29 Apskaidrošanas kalnā.
  4. Tā kā Lūkas evaņģēlijam ir turpinājums, proti, Apustuļu darbu grāmata, tad atsevišķas iezīmes ir saprotamas arī no šī redzespunkta. Piem.,
  5. jau pirmajās divās nodaļās vairākkārt pieminēts Svētais Gars;
  6. Lk. ev. rāda lielu pievēršanos tiem, kas sabiedrībā nebija ar lielām tiesībām, piem., sievietes; kas nebaudīja lielu varu, piem., nabadzīgie; kas nebija ļoti ieredzēti, piem., samarieši (9:52.56; 10:33; 17:16). Un tieši nabadzīgie ir tie, par ko ļoti rūpējās pirmā kristīgā draudze, ko Lūkas, rakstīdams Ap.d. gr. un daudz būdams kopā ar Pāvilu, labi zināja.
  7. Ja Lk. un Ap.d. tika rakstīti arī ar nolūku, lai Romas tiesā būtu pierādījumu, ka Pāvils ir nevainīgs, tad arī šajā jautājumā redzam, ka ne tikai Ap.d. gr. rāda, ka Romas varas pārstāvji nesaskatīja kristietībā neko sliktu (pārsvarā jūdi bija tie, kas izraisīja kristiešu vajāšanas), bet arī Lk. ev. tas jau pamanāms. Piem., Lk. 23:47 romiešu centurions saka: "Un virsnieks, redzēdams, kas notika, Dievu teica un sacīja: "Patiesi, šis bijis taisns cilvēks."" (Mt. 27:54 un Mr. 15:39 virsnieks jeb centurions atzīst Jēzu par Dieva Dēlu.)

Ir vēl citas interesantas iezīmes Lk. ev., piem., pievēršanās atstumtajiem, glābšanas tēma.

Mārtiņš Balodis

  • Introduction

  • 1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
  • 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
  • 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
  • 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

  • The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

  • 5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
  • 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
  • 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
  • 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
  • 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
  • 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
  • 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
  • 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
  • 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
  • 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
  • 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
  • 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
  • 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
  • 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
  • 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
  • 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
  • 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
  • 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
  • 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.
  • 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.
  • 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

  • The Birth of Jesus Foretold

  • 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
  • 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
  • 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
  • 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
  • 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
  • 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
  • 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
  • 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
  • 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
  • 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
  • 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
  • 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
  • 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

  • Mary Visits Elizabeth

  • 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
  • 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.
  • 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
  • 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
  • 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
  • 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

  • Mary’s Song

  • 46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
  • 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
  • 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
  • 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
  • 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
  • 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
  • 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
  • 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
  • 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
  • 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
  • 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

  • The Birth of John the Baptist

  • 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
  • 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
  • 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
  • 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
  • 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
  • 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.
  • 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”
  • 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
  • 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.
  • 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

  • Zechariah’s Song

  • 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
  • 68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
  • 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
  • 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
  • 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
  • 72 to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
  • 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
  • 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
  • 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
  • 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
  • 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
  • 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
  • 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
  • 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.