Luke, Gospel of

The Gospel of Luke is the third of the canonical Gospels, attributed by the unanimous testimony of the early church to Luke — Paul's "beloved physician" (Col. 4:14) and traveling companion. Luke addresses his work to Theophilus (Luke 1:3), claiming to have investigated sources carefully to produce an orderly account. Together with Acts, Luke constitutes a two-volume work covering the ministry of Jesus and the expansion of the early church. Luke's Gospel is characterized by its special emphases: the ministry of the Holy Spirit, prayer, the inclusion of women and the marginalized, and the universal scope of salvation. Only Luke records the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), as well as the infancy narratives featuring Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) and Zechariah's Benedictus (Luke 1:68–79). Luke gives special attention to the journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51–19:27) and preserves unique resurrection appearances, ending with the Ascension (Luke 24:50–53) that opens Acts.