New Testament
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Luke is the third of the 27 books of the New Testament: 24 chapters and 1,151 verses.
About Luke
About Luke · Gospel
Luke, by ancient tradition the physician and companion of Paul, wrote his Gospel for Gentile believers, addressing it to a certain Theophilus and promising an orderly account based on eyewitness tradition. It is the Gospel of mercy and of the overlooked: only Luke gives us the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the thief on the cross, and the fullest portraits of Mary and of women among the disciples. It was written to assure converts far from Jerusalem that the salvation of Israel's God was aimed at them all along.
| Testament | New Testament — book 3 of 27, 49 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 24 |
| Verses | 1,151, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 24 chapters · 29 notes |
| Catechism | 245 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 24 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Luke 1
80 versesThe conception of John the Baptist, and of Christ. The visitation and canticle of the Blessed Virgin. The birth of the Baptist and the canticle of Zachary.
Luke 2
52 versesThe birth of Christ. His presentation in the temple. Simeon's prophecy. Christ at twelve years of age, is found amongst the doctors.
Luke 3
38 versesJohn's mission and preaching. Christ is baptized by him.
Luke 4
44 versesChrist's fasting and temptation. He is persecuted in Nazareth. His miracles in Capharnaum.
Luke 5
39 versesThe miraculous draught of fishes. The cure of the leper and of the paralytic. The call of Matthew.
Luke 6
49 versesChrist excuses his disciples. He cures upon the sabbath day, chooses the twelve and makes a sermon to them.
Luke 7
50 versesChrist heals the centurion's servant. He raises the widow's son to life, answers the messengers sent by John and absolves the penitent sinner.
Luke 8
56 versesThe parable of the seed. Christ stills the storm at sea, casts out the legion, heals the issue of blood and raises the daughter of Jairus to life.
Luke 9
62 versesChrist sends forth his apostles, feeds five thousand with five loaves, is transfigured and casts out a devil.
Luke 10
42 versesChrist sends forth and instructs his seventy-two disciples. The good Samaritan.
Luke 11
54 versesChrist teaches his disciples to pray. He casts out a dumb devil, confutes the Pharisees, and pronounces woes against them for their hypocrisy.
Luke 12
59 versesChrist warns us against hypocrisy, the fear of the world and covetousness. He admonishes all to watch.
Luke 13
35 versesThe necessity of penance. The barren fig tree. The cure of the infirm woman. The journey to Jerusalem.
Luke 14
35 versesChrist heals the dropsical man. The parable of the supper. The necessity of renouncing all to follow Christ.
Luke 15
32 versesThe parables of the lost sheep and of the prodigal son.
Luke 16
31 versesThe parable of the unjust steward and of the rich man and Lazarus.
Luke 17
37 versesLessons of avoiding scandal and of the efficacy of faith. The ten lepers. The manner of the coming of Christ.
Luke 18
43 versesWe must pray always. The Pharisee and the publican. The danger of riches. The blind man is restored to sight.
Luke 19
48 versesZacheus entertains Christ. The parable of the pounds. Christ rides upon an ass and weeps over Jerusalem.
Luke 20
47 versesThe parable of the husbandmen. Of paying tribute to Caesar and of the resurrection of the dead.
Luke 21
38 versesThe widow's mites. The signs that should forerun the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
Luke 22
71 versesThe treason of Judas. The last supper. The first part of the history of the passion.
Luke 23
56 versesThe continuation of the history of the passion.
Luke 24
53 versesChrist's resurrection and manifestation of himself to his disciples.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
22 quotations from 18 saints linked to passages of Luke in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Basil the Great · on Luke 12:16
On this verse
The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.
Homily on the Rich Fool, c. 368
St. John Chrysostom · on Luke 16:19
On this verse
Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood. The riches we possess are not our own but theirs.
Homily on Lazarus, 2, c. 388
St. Louis de Montfort · on Luke 1:28
On this theme
The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, our Redeemer, who loves His Mother.
The Secret of the Rosary, c. 1710
St. Louis de Montfort · on Luke 1:38
On this theme
To Jesus through Mary.
True Devotion to Mary, 120, c. 1712
St. Bernard of Clairvaux · on Luke 1:48
On this theme
In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Following her, you will not go astray.
Homily on the Missus est, II, c. 1120
St. Alphonsus Liguori · on Luke 1:49
On this theme
Mary is the peacemaker between sinners and God.
The Glories of Mary, 1750
16 more, on the chapter pages
- Luke 2:29St. Clare of Assisi
- Luke 3:11St. Ambrose
- Luke 3:11St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · attributed
- Luke 6:27St. John of the Cross
- Luke 9:62St. Teresa of Ávila
- Luke 10:42St. Francis de Sales · attributed
- Luke 10:42St. Benedict of Nursia
- Luke 12:49St. Catherine of Siena · attributed
- Luke 12:49St. Ignatius of Loyola · attributed
- Luke 14:11St. Teresa of Ávila
- Luke 16:10St. Thérèse of Lisieux
- Luke 18:1St. Alphonsus Liguori
- Luke 22:19St. Monica
- Luke 22:42St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Luke 24:26St. Rose of Lima
- Luke 24:27St. Jerome
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Luke is read at the principal Mass on 122 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See Luke 19:38; 2:14 | |
| Thursday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 13:31-35 | |
| Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 14:1-6 | |
| Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 14:1, 7-11 | |
| Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 14:15-24 | |
| St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop | Gospel | Luke 14:25-33 | |
| Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 15:1-10 | |
| Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 16:1-8 | |
| Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 16:9-15 | |
| St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church | Gospel | Luke 17:7-10 | |
| St. Martin of Tours, Bishop | Gospel | Luke 17:11-19 | |
| St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr | Gospel | Luke 17:20-25 | |
| St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin | Gospel | Luke 17:26-37 | |
| St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin | Alleluia | Luke 21:28 | |
| Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 18:1-8 | |
| Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 18:35-43 | |
| St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious | Gospel | Luke 19:1-10 | |
| Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 19:11-28 | |
| Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 19:41-44 | |
| Friday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 19:45-48 | |
| Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Gospel | Luke 20:27-40 | |
| Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 21:1-4 | |
| St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs | Gospel | Luke 21:5-11 | |
| Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time | Gospel | Luke 21:12-19 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.