Luke 1:1

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

ASV

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

YLT

Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,

DBT

Forasmuch as many have undertaken to draw up a relation concerning the matters fully believed among us,

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Voices3

On this verse

(Expos. Ev. Luc. l. i. c. i.) For as many among the Jewish people prophesied by inspiration of the Spirit of God, but others were false prophets rather than prophets, so now also have many attempted to write Gospels which the good moneychanger refuses to pass. One gospel is mentioned which the twelve Apostles are said to have written; another Basilides presumed to write; and another is said to have been by Matthias. Now they who have attempted to set forth these things in order have laboured by themselves, and have not succeeded in what they attempted.

Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 397patristic

Related commentary

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand,.... From hence, to the end of Luk 1:4 is a preface of the evangelist to his Gospel, setting forth the reasons of his writing it; and which he wrote and sent to the excellent Theophilus, for the further confirmation of him in the faith of Christ.

John Gill· Exposition of the Entire Bible, 1771reformed

Forasmuch as many - It has been doubted who are referred to here by the word many. It seems clear that it could not be the other evangelists, for the gospel by John was not yet written, and the word many denotes clearly more than two. Besides, it is said that they undertook to record what the eye-witnesses had delivered to them, so that the writers did not pretend to be eye-witnesses themselves. It is clear, therefore, that other writings are meant than the gospels which we now have, but what they were is a matter of conjecture.

Albert Barnes· Notes on the Old and New Testaments, 1870evangelical

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Cross-references

7 linked verses

The verses this one reaches7

Acts 1:1–3
In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,
2 Peter 1:16–19
For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
1 Timothy 3:16
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
Luke 1:3
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Ecclesiastes 12:10
The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

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Around this verse

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Word doors

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

About this book

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Luke — Luke's 'orderly account' (1:3) follows Jesus from Bethlehem through the long travel narrative to Jerusalem and the Emmaus road.

Canon: New Testament
Author: Luke, beloved physician (Col 4:14), travel-companion of Paul
Date: c. AD 60–62

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Two steps out along the cross-reference floor, votes-ranked — destinations reached by more than one path rise (the text's own hubs). Every stop is a page, and every stop travels with its words.

Through
1 Timothy 3:16
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world,…
leads to
- John 1:14
  The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Hebrews 1:3
  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the…
- Mark 16:19
  After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Romans 16:25
  Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
Through
John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
leads to
- Acts 10:43
  All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- John 3:15–16
  that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- 1 John 5:1
  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
- 1 John 4:15
  If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

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