Introductions
| Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; | Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus [1], 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. |
John 1:1 In the beginning [2] was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets [3], Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight [4].
[1]Acts is also addresed to "Theophilus." The name does not appear anywhere else in the Bible.
[2]John begins his gospel with the same words that begin the Bible itself: Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
[3]Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. or Exodus 23:20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. This phrase is also used in Luke 1:76.
[4]Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
