This chart presents Lukes's order of events in the life of Christ. Luke wrote to a Greek audience to show Jesus was the savior of all humanity. Women receive special attention in Luke's gospel. Luke wrote a sequel to his gospel, the Book of Acts.
| Event | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel announces John's birth | 1:1-25 | |||
| Gabriel visits Mary | 1:26-38 | |||
| Mary visits Elizabeth | 1:39-56 | |||
| Birth of John the Baptist | 1:57-80 | |||
| Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem | 2:1-7 | |||
| Shepherds visit Jesus | 2:8-20 | |||
| Circumcision of Jesus | 2:21 | |||
| Jesus presented in the Temple | 2:22-38 | |||
| Joseph's family settles in Nazareth | 2:19-23 | 2:39 | ||
| Childhood of Jesus | 2:40-52 | |||
| Ministry of John the Baptist | 3:1-12 | 1:1-8 | 3:1-20 | |
| Herod imprisons John the Baptist | 4:12 | 1:14 | 3:19-20 | |
| John baptizes Jesus | 3:13-17 | 1:9-11 | 3:21-23 | |
| Genealogy of Jesus through Mary | 3:23-38 | |||
| Temptation of Jesus | 4:1-11 | 1:12-13 | 4:1-13 | |
| Jesus continues toward Galilee | 4:14-15 | 4:43 | ||
| First rejection in Nazareth | 4:16-30 | |||
| Jesus settles in Capernaum | 4:13-17 | 1:14-15 | 4:31-32 | |
| Demoniac in Synagogue | 1:21-28 | 4:33-37 | ||
| Peter's mother-in-law healed | 8:14-17 | 1:29-31 | 4:38-39 | |
| Many healed at sunset | 1:32-34 | 4:40-41 | ||
| Disciples seek Jesus | 1:35-38 | 4:42-43 | ||
| Jesus preaches in Synagogues | 4:23-25 | 1:39 | 4:44 | |
| Jesus preaches in Simon's boat | 5:1-3 | |||
| Miraculous catch of fish | 5:4-11 | |||
| Jesus heals a leper | 8:2-4 | 1:40-45 | 5:12-16 | |
| Jesus cures a paralytic | 9:2-8 | 2:1-12 | 5:17-26 | |
| Matthew called to be a disciple | 9:9 | 2:13-14 | 5:27-28 | |
| Parables at Levi's reception | 9:10-17 | 2:15-22 | 5:29-39 | |
| Disciples pick grain on the Sabbath | 12:1-8 | 2:23-28 | 6:1-5 | |
| Man's hand healed on the Sabbath | 12:9-14 | 3:1-6 | 6:6-11 | |
| Jesus prays on a mountain | 6:12 | |||
| Jesus selects 12 disciples | 3:13-19 | 6:13-16 | ||
| Jesus descends and heals the multitude | 6:17-19 | |||
| Sermon on the Mount | 5:1-8:1 | 6:20-49 | ||
| Jesus heals a Centurion's servant | 8:5-13 | 7:1-10 | ||
| Widow of Nain's son is raised | 7:11-17 | |||
| John sends 2 disciples to question Jesus | 11:2-6 | 7:18-23 | ||
| Jesus commends John the Baptist | 11:7-19 | 7:24-35 | ||
| Jesus dines with Simon the Pharisee | 7:36-50 | |||
| Generous women | 8:1-3 | |||
| Parables by the Sea | 13:1-35 | 4:1-34 | 8:4-18 | |
| Family seeks Jesus | 12:46-50 | 3:31-35 | 8:19-21 | |
| Orders to cross the Sea of Galilee | 8:18 | 4:35 | 8:22 | |
| Jesus calms a stormy sea | 8:23-27 | 4:36-41 | 8:23-25 | |
| Legion cast out of violent man | 8:28-34 | 5:1-20 | 8:26-39 | |
| Jesus sails to Capernaum | 9:1 | 5:21 | 8:40 | |
| Jairus asks Jesus to heal his daughter | 9:18-19 | 5:22-23 | 8:41-42 | |
| Ill woman is healed by touching Jesus | 9:20-22 | 5:24-34 | 8:42-48 | |
| Daughter's death is reported to Jairus | 5:35-36 | 8:49-50 | ||
| Jesus raises Jairus' daughter to life | 9:23-26 | 5:37-43 | 8:51-56 | |
| 12 sent out to preach | 9:35-11:1 | 6:7-13 | 9:1-6 | |
| Herod fears John the Baptist has risen | 6:14-29 | 9:7-9 | ||
| 12 return and they withdraw | 14:13 | 6:30-32 | 9:10 | 6:1 |
| Jesus teaches multitude | 14:14 | 6:33-34 | 9:11 | 6:2 |
| Jesus feeds 5,000 | 14:15-21 | 6:35-44 | 9:12-17 | 6:3-14 |
| Jesus rebukes Peter | 16:21-28 | 8:31-9:1 | 9:18-27 | |
| The Transfiguration | 17:1-8 | 9:2-8 | 9:28-36 | |
| Demon is cast out of boy | 17:14-18 | 9:14-27 | 9:37-43 | |
| Jesus discusses his death | 17:22-23 | 9:30-32 | 9:44-45 | |
| Disciples argue about greatest | 18:1-6 | 9:33-37 | 9:46-48 | |
| John's zeal | 9:38-42 | 9:49-50 | ||
| Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem | 9:51 | 7:10 | ||
| Messengers sent to Samaria | 9:52-53 | |||
| James and John rebuked for attitude | 9:54-56 | |||
| Unfit followers | 8:19-22 | 9:57-62 | ||
| Seventy sent out | 10:1-16 | |||
| Seventy return | 10:17-20 | |||
| Jesus rejoices | 10:21-22 | |||
| Jesus privately blesses the 12 | 10:23-24 | |||
| Lawyer tests Jesus | 10:25-28 | |||
| Parable of the Good Samaritan | 10:29-37 | |||
| Martha prepares whild Mary listens | 10:38-42 | |||
| How to pray | 11:1-13 | |||
| Blasphemy and teachings on demons | 11:14-26 | |||
| A woman blesses Mary | 11:27-28 | |||
| Sign of Jonah | 11:29-32 | |||
| Lamp of the body | 11:33-36 | |||
| Lunch with a Pharisee | 11:37 | |||
| Jesus does not wash his hands | 11:38 | |||
| Jesus pronounces woes on the Pharisees | 11:39-44 | |||
| Jesus pronounces woes on the Lawyers | 11:45-52 | |||
| Jesus leaves, and they plot against him. | 11:53-54 | |||
| Jesus teaches a great crowd | 12:1-12 | |||
| Jesus warns against greed | 12:13-15 | |||
| Parables about being ready | 12:16-40 | |||
| Peter's question | 12:41 | |||
| More parables | 12:42-59 | |||
| Fate of Galileans reported to Jesus | 13:1-5 | |||
| Parable of the fig tree | 13:6-9 | |||
| Woman healed on the Sabbath | 13:10-13 | |||
| Synagogue official opposes Jesus | 13:14-17 | |||
| Parables of mustard seed and leaven | 13:18-21 | |||
| Jesus travels toward Jerusalem | 13:22 | |||
| How many will be saved? | 13:23-30 | |||
| Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod | 13:31-35 | |||
| In a Pharisee's house on the Sabbath | 14:1 | |||
| Man with dropsy healed | 14:2-6 | |||
| Parable of the guests | 14:7-11 | |||
| Parable to the host of the feast | 14:12-14 | |||
| Parable of the dinner | 14:15-24 | |||
| Great multitudes travel with Jesus | 14:25 | |||
| Cost of discipleship | 14:25-35 | |||
| Eats with tax collectors and sinners | 15:1-2 | |||
| Lost sheep, coin, and son | 15:3-32 | |||
| Parable of the unrighteous steward | 16:1-13 | |||
| Pharisees scoff. Teaching on divorce. | 16:14-18 | |||
| Rich man and Lazarus | 16:19-31 | |||
| Jesus instructs disciples | 17:1-10 | |||
| Ten lepers are cleansed | 17:11-14 | |||
| Samaritan returns to thank Jesus | 17:15-19 | |||
| Pharisees ask about the Kingdom | 17:20-21 | |||
| Jesus warns disciples about the future | 17:22-37 | |||
| Parable of the unjust judge | 18:1-8 | |||
| Parable of the Pharisee and tax collector | 18:9-14 | |||
| Jesus blesses little children | 19:13-15 | 10:13-16 | 18:15-17 | |
| Rich young ruler | 19:16-26 | 10:17-27 | 18:18-27 | |
| Disciples reward | 19:27-30 | 10:28-31 | 18:28-30 | |
| Jesus predicts death | 20:17-19 | 10:32-34 | 18:31-34 | |
| Blind men healed near Jericho | 20:29-34 | 10:46-52 | 18:35-43 | |
| Zaccheus is converted near Jericho | 19:1-10 | |||
| Jesus is near Jerusalem | 19:11 | |||
| Blind men healed near Jericho | 19:12-27 | |||
| Jesus ascends toward Jerusalem | 21:1 | 11:1 | 19:28 | |
| Two disciples get a colt | 21:1-7 | 11:1-7 | 19:29-35 | |
| Triumphal entry into Jerusalem | 21:8-11 | 11:7-10 | 19:35-38 | 12:12-18 |
| Pharisees reaction | 19:39-40 | 12:19 | ||
| Jesus weeps for Jerusalem | 19:41-44 | |||
| Second temple cleansing | 21:12-13 | 11:15-17 | 19:45-46 | |
| Jewish leaders seek to destroy Jesus | 21:15-16 | 11:18 | 19:47-48 | |
| Authority challenged in the Temple | 21:23-27 | 11:27-33 | 20:1-8 | |
| Parable of the vine growers | 21:33-46 | 12:1-12 | 20:9-18 | |
| Jews question on paying taxes | 22:15-22 | 12:13-17 | 20:19-26 | |
| Sadducees question the resurrection | 22:23-33 | 12:18-27 | 20:27-40 | |
| Jesus questions them about baptism | 22:41-46 | 12:35-37 | 20:41-44 | |
| Warnings about Scribes and Pharisees | 23:1-39 | 12:38-40 | 20:45-47 | |
| Widow's mite | 12:41-44 | 21:1-4 | ||
| Disciples admire the temple | 24:1-2 | 13:1-2 | 21:5-6 | |
| 4 fishermen question Jesus | 24:3 | 13:3-4 | 21:7 | |
| Jesus warns disciples of persecution | 24:4-14 | 13:5-13 | 21:8-19 | |
| Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem | 24:15-28 | 13:14-23 | 21:20-24 | |
| Jesus teaches about the 2nd coming | 24:29-31 | 13:24-27 | 21:25-28 | |
| Parable of the fig tree | 24:32-33 | 13:28-29 | 21:29-31 | |
| Warnings to be alert | 24:34-51 | 13:30-37 | 21:32-36 | |
| People come early to hear Jesus teach | 21:37-38 | |||
| Plot to kill Jesus | 26:3-5 | 14:1-2 | 22:1-2 | |
| Judas bargains to betray Jesus | 26:14-16 | 14:10-11 | 22:3-6 | |
| Peter & John sent to prepare for Passover | 26:17-19 | 14:12-16 | 22:7-13 | |
| Fellowship in the upper room | 26:20 | 14:17 | 22:14 | |
| Lord's Supper | 26:26-29 | 14:22-25 | 22:14-20 | I Cor 11:23-29 |
| Jesus predicts his betrayal | 26:21-25 | 14:18-21 | 22:21-23 | 13:21-26 |
| Dispute about the greatest disciple | 22:24-30 | |||
| Jesus tells Simon he prayed for him | 22:31-32 | |||
| Jesus predicts Peter's denials | 26:33-35 | 14:29-31 | 22:33-34 | 13:36-38 |
| Jesus warns the disciples to be prepared | 22:35-38 | |||
| Jesus enters Gethsemane | 26:36 | 14:32 | 22:39-40 | 18:1 |
| Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane | 26:36-46 | 14:32-42 | 22:40-46 | |
| Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss | 26:48-50 | 14:44-45 | 22:47-48 | |
| Peter severs the ear of Malchus | 26:50-54 | 14:46-47 | 22:49-50 | 18:10-11 |
| Jesus heals the high priest's servant | 22:51 | |||
| Jesus is arrested. The disciples flee. | 26:55-56 | 14:48-52 | 22:52-54 | 18:12 |
| Jesus lead to high priest's house | 26:57 | 14:53 | 22:54 | 18:13-14 |
| Peter follows at a distance | 26:58 | 14:54 | 22:54 | 18:15-16 |
| Peter's 1st denial - doorkeeping girl | 26:69-70 | 14:66-68 | 22:55-57 | 18:17-18 |
| Peter's 2nd denial - by the fire | 26:71-72 | 14:69-70 | 22:58 | 18:25 |
| Peter's 3rd denial - relative of Malchus | 26:73-75 | 14:70-72 | 22:59-62 | 18:26-27 |
| Guards beat Jesus | 22:63-65 | |||
| Caiaphas condemns Jesus | 26:62-66 | 14:60-64 | 22:66-71 | |
| Jesus before Pilate | 27:1-14 | 23:1-7 | 18:29-38 | |
| Jesus before Herod | 23:8-10 | |||
| Herod's soldiers mock Jesus | 15:1-5 | 23:11-12 | ||
| Pilate releases Barabbas | 27:15-26 | 15:6-15 | 23:13-25 | 18:38-40 |
| Simon of Cyrene bears the cross | 27:31-32 | 15:20-21 | 23:26 | |
| Jesus speaks to weeping women | 23:27-32 | |||
| Jesus is brought to Golgotha | 27:33 | 15:22 | 23:32-33 | 19:17 |
| 2 robbers are crucified with Jesus | 27:38 | 15:27-28 | 23:33 | 19:18 |
| Inscription written by Pilate | 27:37 | 15:26 | 23:38 | 19:19-22 |
| "Forgive them…" | 23:34 | |||
| Soldiers divide the garments of Jesus | 27:35-36 | 15:24 | 23:34 | 19:23-24 |
| Multitudes mock Jesus | 27:39-43 | 15:29-32 | 23:35-37 | |
| Robbers mock Jesus | 27:44 | 15:32 | 23:39 | |
| One robber rebukes the other | 23:40-41 | |||
| "…you will be with me in Paradise." | 23:43 | |||
| Darkness from 6th to 9th hour | 27:45 | 15:33 | 23:44-45 | |
| Jesus cries out | 27:50 | 15:37 | 23:46 | |
| "Into Thy hands I commit my spirit." | 23:46 | |||
| Jesus bows his head and dies | 27:50 | 15:37 | 23:46 | 19:30 |
| Temple veil torn from top to bottom | 27:51 | 15:38 | 23:45 | |
| Centurion glorifies God | 27:54 | 15:39 | 23:47 | |
| Multitude leaves grieving | 23:48 | |||
| Women watch from a distance | 27:55-56 | 15:40-41 | 23:49 | |
| Joseph requests body from Pilate | 27:57-58 | 15:42-43 | 23:50-52 | 19:38 |
| Body placed in new garden tomb | 27:59-60 | 15:46 | 23:53 | 19:41-42 |
| Two Mary's watch the burial | 27:61 | 15:47 | 23:54-55 | |
| Two Mary's prepare spices and then rest | 23:56 | |||
| Women bring spices to tomb at dawn | 28:1 | 16:1-4 | 24:1-3 | 20:1 |
| Angels appear to women | 28:5-7 | 16:5-7 | 24:4-8 | |
| Women run to tell disciples | 28:8 | 16:8 | 24:9-11 | 20:2 |
| Peter and John inspect the empty tomb | 24:12 | 20:3-9 | ||
| Peter and John go home | 24:12 | 20:10 | ||
| Jesus meets 2 on road to Emmaus | 16:12-13 | 24:13-32 | ||
| Jesus appears to Simon Peter | 1 Cor 15:5 | 24:34 | ||
| Two report to disciples in Jerusalem | 24:33-35 | |||
| Jesus appears to disciples without Thomas | 24:36-46 | 20:19-24 | ||
| Jesus commissions the apostles | 28:16-20 | 16:15-18 | 24:44-49 | |
| Jesus is received into Heaven | 16:19-20 | 24:50-53 | ||
| Luke summarizes the 40 day appearances | Acts 1:4-11 |
While the gospels present similar events, the order, emphasis, inclusion, and omission of events changes with each author. Each gospel is a literary work with unique goals and a specific target audience.
Discrediting the gospels for sequential differences is pointless. The theological purpose of each author was not to construct a precise sequential account, but to present Christ to his readers. New Testament writers occasionally grouped related ideas for clarity, and used devices like flashbacks for emphasis (e.g. Luke 9:7-9).
To learn more about Luke and his purpose, audience, and emphasis, check out our Explore the Gospels article.