St. Mark, Luke Gospels & Acts: Religious Studies

• The study guide focuses on Religious Studies, specifically, St. Mark’s and Luke’s Gospels, and the Acts Of The Apostles.

The Gospels

• The term "synoptic" originates from the Greek word "synopsis," meaning seeing all together.
• Synoptic accounts give an account of events from the same point of view and share similar content.
• Matthew, Mark and Luke are the synoptic gospels.
• The meaning of the word “gospel” is Good News
• Gospels contain the stories or good news of Jesus' birth, baptism, ministry, death, and resurrection.
• St. Luke's Gospel shows Jesus as the Saviour of the world
• Gospels were written by a group: The Disciples and includes Matthew, John Mark, Dr. Luke, and John.
• Acts of the Apostles is the book of the New Testament that continues Luke's gospel.
• Benedictus, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are two well known songs recorded in St. Luke's Gospel.

John's Birth

• Scripture Text: Luke 1:5-25
• Zechariah was in the Temple when he was visited for John's birth to be announced.
• Zechariah doubted the angel's message due to his advanced age and Elizabth's barrenness.
• Zechariah was burning incense in the temple when the angel visited.
• The angel told Zechariah not to be afraid, he and Elizabeth will have a son named John.
• John will not drink strong wine and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Like the prophet Elijah.
• Zechariah was made dumb until John's birth for not believing the message that he and his wife were too old and Elizabeth was barren
• The angel told Zechariah that the unborn child will be the prophet of God, preach in the power of Elijah, not drink strong drink or wine, turn the hearts of people back to God, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• He took long to come out of the temple, he could not speak to them, and made signs with his hands to them was how the worshippers at the temple knew that Zechariah had a vision.
• Elizabeth was happy that she had conceived because the Lord had taken away her disgrace of not having children, as it was a social disgrace to be barren.
• Gabriel is the name of the angel who appeared to Zechariah

Jesus' Birth Announced

• The term "barren" means unable to conceive or produce a child.
• Luke 1:26-56 outlines Jesus' birth announcement
• The angel told Mary that the child's name will be Jesus, he will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High God.
• Mary was confused when told she would be the mother of God's son and wondered how it could be since she was a virgin.
• Mary lived in Nazareth and was engaged to Joseph.
• Mary conceived because the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of God overshadowed her.
• The term "virgin" means someone who has not engaged in sexual intercourse.
• Zachariah questioned the angel with doubt and wanted proof.

Angels and Mary

• Both Mary and Zechariah were troubled when the angel approached.
• They both responded with a question.
• They were told not to be afraid.
• They were given a name for their unborn child.
• Whereas Zachariah was punished for his unbelief, Mary was blessed in her faithfulness.

Mary and Elizabeth

• Mary visited Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea.
• Mary went to Elizabeth's house as she needed a place to hide because being a young unwed pregnant woman could have caused her have been stoned.
• Elizabeth conceived in her old age, Mary wanted to share the joy of the miraculous pregnancy.
• The name of Mary's song of praise is Magnificat.
• The baby in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy when Mary greeted Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Birth of John the Baptist: Luke 1:5-25
• Benedictus is the name of Zechariah's song of praise.
• The relatives and friends wanted Elizabeth to name her son Zechariah because that was his father's name and traditionally, male babies are named after the father or a male relative.
• There was no one who had the name John.

Terms Summaries

• Circumcision was a covenant made between God and Abraham and necessary in order to be saved.
• Required as a visible, physical sign of the covenant between God and His people that identifies them as His special people, it is an important practice to Jews.
• Covenant means an agreement or promise.
• Circumcision is the act of removing the foreskin of the male's penis.
• The Jewish boys eight days after their birth takes place the naming and circumcision.
• When Zechariah wrote the baby's name is John took place his mouth was opened, tongue was loosened, he began to speak, and he began praising God and the people were filled with awe.

Birth of Jesus

• Luke 2:1-20 is the Scripture Text where one can find the Birth of Jesus.
• Census is an official count of the population carried out at set intervals that population property was used for assessing taxes in Ancient Rome.
• Jesus means Saviour and Immanuel means God with us.
• Angel is a divine being who acts as a messenger of God and a spirit that protects and offers guidance.
• Bethlehem is known as the city of David.
• The angel was filled with the glory of the Lord and the shepherds were afraid.
• The shepherds were told not to be afraid because he brought good news that will bring great joy to all people

Signs of the Baby Jesus

• Messiah: a saviour, who is Christ the Lord has been born in Bethlehem, the City of David.
• They will find Him wrapped in strips/swaddling cloth and lying in a manger.
• The angels gave those signs to find Jesus.
• The angel was joined by a multitude of heavenly angels/hosts, they began singing and praising God with "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace and good will toward men".
• The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem to see the thing that the angel told them and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
• Everyone who heard the news were amazed, Mary pondered everything in her heart, shepherds went home praising God for what they had seen and heard..
• The Shepherds hurried to Jerusalem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus just as the angels had said.
• They saw the baby Jesus and spread the word and all who heard the message were amazed.
• They left rejoicing, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen.
• God chose the shepherds to be the first visitors of baby Jesus because they represented the poor and humble people, who would spread the gospel with joy
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem because a census was taken and everyone had to return to their hometown Joseph was a descendant of King David prophesies.
• Because there were no rooms in the inns, he was born in a stable, a sign to show his humility

Jesus Presentation in the Temple

• Scripture Text: Luke 2:22-40 is the Jesus Presentation in the Temple scripture.
• As prescribed in the law of the Lord: "Every first- born male shall be deemed to belong to the Lord."
• Jesus was being dedicated to the Lord on this occasion.
• The Priest performed the ceremony.
• Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem to dedicate Jesus to the Lord and for Mary to participate in the Purification Ceremony
• The purification ceremony was a custom to show that women were clean, and can participate in religious ceremonies, a process by which an unclean person was restored to worship, according to the Levitical law.
• Leviticus Chapter 12 states that woman gives birth to a male to a female child, she is unclean for 80 days and 40 days, depending if she gives birth to a male child or a female child.
• At the end of the purification, a cleansing is offered to the altar; a year-old lamb for a burnt and a dovey sacrifice offering is made for the rich.
• Two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering is made if the mother cannot afford a lamb.
• Two doves or two young pigeons was the ‘offering of the poor'
• Mary's offering for her purification was two doves or two pigeons, because she was poor.
• Mary met Prophetess Anna and Prophet Simeon when she presented Jesus to the Lord.
• Accoring To St. Luke 2:29, Simeon said, “Now you have kept your promise and you may let your servant go in peace. because he could now be relieved of his watch because he had seen the promise of God fulfilled.
• Simeon sang a song called the Nunc Dimittis and was a prophet, was God-fearing.
• Anna was a Prophetess was an 84 year old widow after being married for seven years and was the daughter of Phanuel.
• She spoke about Jesus to all who was waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.
• She spent day and night in the temple worshipping God, praying and fasting.

Boy Jesus in the Temple

• The Scripture Text: Luke 2: 41-52 describes Boy Jesus in the Temple.
• Bar-Mitzvah defines "Son of the Commandment' and Bat-Mitzvah means Daughter of the Commandment, Jewish ceremonies for 12-13 years old, learn the Torah, read in Hebrew.
• Commermores Jews freedom by God from slavery in Egypt is the term Passover Festival.
• Jesus' parents took him to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Passover Festival and to take part in the Bar-Mitzvah ceremony.
• Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem with Jesus whom they share who was missing for three days and went to search for him.
• Jesus said they said, “why did you look for me, didn't you know I must be about my Father's business (in my Father's house)", discovered God, what to do.
• Means teaching or written law: the Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament known as the Pentateuch.
• Jesus was sitting with the Jewish teachers listening and asking questions when His parents found him.

The Ministry of John the Baptist

• The Ministry of John the Baptist Scripture Text: Luke 3:1-20/Matthew 3:1-13
• Zechariah and Elizabeth are John the Baptists parents.
• John the Baptist was "Someone is shouting in the desert, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord.”
• Theme of John the Baptist's message/preaching includes baptism, repentance and prepare for coming
• John was called the forerunner of Jesus because he prepared the way for Jesus' coming.
• Tax collectors: do not take more money and Soldiers: “do not be violent" were the two groups that responded to John's message
• John said the tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
• John said, “... I am not good enough to untie His sandals to show Jesus rank above him.
• John ate locust and wild honey and wore clothes made from camel's fur and preached in the wilderness/desert.
• Repent is to be sorry for an offense and Baptism is a Christian ceremony that involves being immersed in water.

The River Message

• Brood of vipers! Who warned you, Trees which do not have food cut it, "He baptizes with water" is related to the Baptists message
• The one who is coming after is mightier than him, and it is unable to untie his sandals
• He instructed the people who came to be baptized to repent.
• To the unbaptized, John shared to share their belongings and for all who has food must share.

The Death of John the Baptist

• Mark 6:14-29 describes the death of John the Baptist.
• Herod married Philip's wife was the reason Herod the Baptist arrested and Herodias hated him.
• Army officers present at Herod's birthday celebration where Herodias' daughter, Salome danced
• He promised her anything she wanted even up to half of his kingdom and her mother told her to request the head of John on a tray.
• King Herod made the promise to Herodias' daughter.
• John the Baptist was beheaded.
• Adultery means a married person having sex with someone other than his/her partner
• Execution means the legal punishment of killing a condemned criminal.

The Baptism of Jesus

• Is a religious ceremony that involves being immersed in water?
• A ceremony that serves as an initiation or naming ritual took place in the Jordan River.
• The Heavens opened, Holy Spirit came, God acknowledged: the voice and the spirit that Jesus is the Son.
• Immersion, Sprinkling, and Pouring are the two ways to be baptised by the different churches.
• Infant baptism introduces to Christianity and Adult baptism happens
• John the Baptist baptized Jesus who was 30 years old, an exemple, recieving Holy Spriit, humans ministry, sin.
• Jesus was in prayer and had the presence of the Holy Spirit at his Baptisms

Tentations of Jesus

The Temptations of Jesus is written in Luke 4:1-13, as an excerpt

• To cast from himself a way of proving of what the speaker want from "the Son of God" at the Temple with Satan.
• A speaker, as the Devil, rejecting, desire of His election; trial and recognize Him as the Messiah.
• After days and Jesus fasting to be leaded by the Spirit
• Praying and Fasting for walking from God and avoid tempting
• Jesus' temptation was from Saan's voice with each respond
• Jesus resisted each tempting in three times
• Pressure and tested is to be tempted by something wrong
• Not food and with reason ordered to turn to spirit
• To prove that He could not sin from the example

The Call of Levi

• The Call of Levi: Mark 2:13-17 speaks as a person to be talking why: Him follow with Matthew to give a message to sin.
• The House followed and the occasion that Levi giving to a feast
• Outcast and Publican were to defined and have been taken place where He was the healer to other and not Jewish who persisted to The Law.
• Levi answered and said that God not needed and didn't came to a ruler: a taxi/Alphaeus son
• Levi left and followed Jesus to be a collector

How the Rich was Seen

• Disobeyed The LAw, the tax collectors made other hurt, hated the other, as a traitor to the Law
• A Jew being a sinner with the unclean The Lord
• Twelve Deciple

Luke 6:12-16 explains

• Who learn from another where One expand by fishers.
• To serve the death, Jesus had 12 decriples
• James, Peter; Peter son
• Judas and Matthew known that

What to Fast. Meaning; Symbol

Fast is a spirit; time for:

• Focus on healing and problems
• For God to repentence and express in a word
• Three; To seven/Middle, twenty in length
• APharises for wrong reasons
• As:
• Bride - For God
• God - Is better for do it
• The God fasts

Jesus Withdrew

It what can, he has

1. John’s men
2. Them
3. To come in time Anglican by three men To know that all had the mess

God Has His Own Way

1. By God has said and has power The Sermont:

Scripture by His Beatified by poor Sorrowful and who stand

How to treat and the end

1. No despise and love By as and what 1 In give To treat

Don't Judge

You will have is to:

1. Not or to be one
2. Can have and love
3. Give and full

The Two House:

1. To give and to do The Lord
2. Three from the rock To be the Messiah To say
3. No for fully under
4. People had

All is in Need

1. He saw Jesus The Word
2. Body
3. Mind Did all to help

The Sin

2. To not harm It
3. Help but not help The

The World as Is

1. No
2. No all To listen

What to Do

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