ELL Bible Study: Luke 1:1-4 — Luke’s Purpose for Writing

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 1:1-4 that may work better for native English speakers.

All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Bible classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

Luke 1:1-4 Printable Discussion Questions

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you share about a time someone told you an important story from your family or country? What was the story about?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a man named Luke. He wanted to tell the true story about Jesus. We will read why Luke wrote his book and why the truth is important.

Vocabulary Lists

Vocabulary List Using the ERV Bible Translation

Agree — To think or say the same thing.
Among — In the middle of a group of people or things.
Be Sure — To feel certain something is right.
Beginning — The first part of something.
Carefully — In a way that shows you pay close attention.
Complete — Finished or whole; with nothing missing.
Decide — To choose what to do after thinking about it.
Event — Something that happens.
Give — To let someone have something.
Happen — When something takes place.
Honorable — Respected because the person does what is right.
Learn — To get new knowledge or skills.
Many — A large number of people or things.
Message — Words sent from one person to another.
Most — The largest number or amount.
Organized Way — A clear order that is easy to follow.
Other — A different person or thing.
People — A group of men, women, or children.
Plan — A set idea about what someone wants to do.
Report — A written or spoken story about something that happened.
Saw — Looked at something with your eyes.
Serve — To work for and help someone.
Study — To learn about something by reading or thinking about it.
Taught — Helped someone learn something.
Tell — To give information with words.
Theophilus — A name that means “friend of God.” He may have been a leader or an important person.
True — Something real and not false.
Try — To make an effort to do something.
Write — To put words on paper or another surface.
Written — Words put on paper or another surface.

Vocabulary List Using the GNT Bible Translation

Account — A story or report about what happened.
Among — In the middle of or part of a group.
Beginning — The first part of something.
Carefully — In a way that shows you pay close attention.
Done Their Best — Tried as hard as they could.
Full — Complete; having everything.
Matters — Important things to think about or talk about.
Message — Words sent from one person to another.
Orderly — Neat and in the right order.
Proclaim — To say something loudly and clearly for others to hear.
Report — A written or spoken story about something that happened.
Saw — Looked at something with your eyes.
Study — To learn about something by reading and thinking about it carefully.
Taken Place — Happened or occurred.
Taught — Helped someone learn something.
Theophilus — A name that means “friend of God.” He may have been a leader or an important person.
Thought — An idea or something you think about.
Truth — Something that is real and right.
Write — To put words on paper or another surface.
Your Excellency — A polite and respectful way to speak to an important person.

Summary of the Passage

This passage is the beginning of the book of Luke in the Bible. The Bible is a special book for Christians. It tells the story of God, his people, and Jesus, God’s Son. In this part, a man named Luke is writing a letter to a friend named Theophilus. Luke wants to explain why he is writing this book.

Luke says that many people have already written about the things that happened when Jesus was on earth. These writers learned their stories from people who saw Jesus with their own eyes and told others about him. Luke wants to write everything down clearly and carefully so people can understand what happened.

Luke tells Theophilus that he studied everything very closely. He wants to make sure his report is correct and in the right order. He hopes this book will help Theophilus know the truth about what he has heard. The name Theophilus means “friend of God,” and he may have been a leader or an important person.

This passage shows us that the story of Jesus is true and important. Many people saw what happened, and they told others. Luke worked hard to write these stories so people could learn about Jesus and believe in him. This passage teaches us that it is good to learn carefully about God and the good news of Jesus.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Text from the ERV Bible Translation

Luke Writes About the Life of Jesus
1 Most Honorable Theophilus:
Many others have tried to give a report of the things that happened among us to complete God’s plan.
2 What they have written agrees with what we learned from the people who saw those events from the beginning.
They also served God by telling people his message.
3 I studied it all carefully from the beginning.
Then I decided to write it down for you in an organized way.
4 I did this so that you can be sure that what you have been taught is true.
Luke 1:1-4 (ERV)

Text from the GNT Bible Translation

Introduction
1 Dear Theophilus: Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us.
2 They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message.
3 And so, Your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you.
4 I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught.
Luke 1:1-4 (GNT)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 1:1-4 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 1:1-4 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 1:1-4 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 1:1-4 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 1:1-4 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 1:1-4 (ESV)

LUke 1:1-4 Printable ERV Passage

LUke 1:1-4 Printable GNT Passage

Luke 1:1-4 Printable Discussion Questions

Comprehension Questions

Who is Luke writing this letter to?
What have many people already done before Luke wrote his book?
How did the people learn the stories about Jesus?
Why does Luke say he studied everything carefully?
What does Luke want Theophilus to know?
What does the name Theophilus mean?
Why do you think Luke wanted to put the stories in order?

Application Questions

Why is it important to learn about Jesus?
How can we make sure we know the truth about something?
Who can you share the good news of Jesus with?
What helps you remember important stories in your life?

Theological Insights

God cares about truth and wants his people to know what really happened. Luke wrote this book to help people be sure about what they believe.
The story of Jesus is not a made-up story. It was told by people who saw it with their own eyes. Christians believe this makes the message trustworthy.
God works through people like Luke to share his good news. Christians believe that the Bible is written by people, but it is also God’s word to us.