The varied manner in which the New Testament writers use the Old Testament has received much attention.

Jesus' encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and later in Jerusalem helps us understand Luke's convictions regarding the relevance of the Old Testament for understanding Jesus and the movement initiated by Jesus (especially Luke 24:25-27, 45-48), convictions which other New Testament writers shared.

Luke repeatedly emphasizes through quotations, allusions, and echoes of Old Testament passages that "the events in question were predescribed in Scripture and therefore necessarily had to take place, and that these events included not only the suffering and glorification of Jesus, but also the preaching to all nations."

Luke's main source for Old Testament material is the LXX, rather than the Hebrew text. Some of his quotations may have been taken from testimonia, i.e., from thematic collections of scriptural texts. Luke's use of the Old Testament can be categorized as follows.323

1. Summary references. Sometimes Luke refers to the Scriptures as confirming a particular point without citing or alluding to a particular passage (3:18, 24; 10:43; 17:3; 18:28; 24:14; 26:23; cf. Luke 24:26, 46).

2. Quotations with formulas. A particular text of Scripture is introduced by a formula which explicitly marks the following text as a scriptural citation (e.g., "as it is written;" cf. 1:20; 2:16, 25, 34). Old Testament texts are sometimes quoted verbatim with no changes. Sometimes changes are introduced on account of the syntactical context of the narrative in Acts. Some differences with the LXX text are due to the use of other Greek translations of the LXX (e.g., Aquila), quotation from memory, or deliberate changes which are meant to highlight a particular point.325

3. Quotations without formulas. A particular text of Scripture is quoted without an introductory formula (e.g., 3:13; 4:24). Biblically literate listeners or readers would note that the Old Testament is quoted, while a recently converted Gentile Christian may not notice that Luke reproduces a scriptural text.

4. Paraphrases. Sometimes Luke provides a free version of an Old Testament text, particularly in the historical summaries of Old Testament passages in 7:2-56 and 13:17-25.

5. Allusions. Luke uses several words from an Old Testament text to draw attention to the fact that he has a particular scriptural text in mind, without providing a full citation (e.g., 17:24, 26; 26:18).

6. Echoes. Luke's language reflects a particular Old Testament text, or a series of texts, without specifically citing the text or alluding to the text (e.g., 3:8; 4:34; 5:30; 6:3).

7. Scriptural terminology. Luke frequently uses phrases found in the Old Testament without having a specific text in mind (e.g., 3:2; 8:23; 10:36, 38; 13:10). 8. Language. Luke uses expressions which are typical of the Greek of the LXX, generally due to the attempt to translate Hebrew idioms.327 9. Motifs and structures. Here several "techniques" of Luke are relevant. It has been suggested that Paul in 13:16-41 and James in 15:13-21 use the structure of synagogue sermons. Another use of Scripture is that of promise (or prophecy) and fulfillment; for example, it has been argued that Scripture provides the "script" for God's plan with the three necessary "moments" of the suffering of the Messiah, his raising to the throne of God, and his preaching of light to Israel and the Gentiles (1:15-26; cf. 13:36). A broader way of understanding Luke's appeal to the Old Testament is the concept of "prophecy and pattern" in the presentation of Jesus: "Luke sees the Scripture fulfilled in Jesus in terms of the fulfillment of OT prophecy and in terms of the reintroduction and fulfillment of the OT patterns that point to the presence of God's saving work."330 Specifically Luke-Acts has been read in the light of the expectation of a new exodus in Isaiah, presented by Luke as fulfilled in Jesus and in the life of the church; sub-themes of the Isaianic new-exodus program are the reconstitution of Israel, the ingathering of the exiles, the church as the community of the Spirit, the rebuilding of the Davidic kingdom, repentance of sinners and turning to the Lord, the inclusion of the outcasts.1 1 Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts (Expanded Digital Edition.; Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New

Read the article"Luke's Use of the Old Testament." Download "Luke's Use of the Old Testament."(Make sue to read all the Scriptures referenced in the article.)

Read Luke 24:13-35.

Based on your understanding of the posted article, what do you think Luke meant in 24:27, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." You will want to address how Jesus' life and ministry fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures. Illustrate your point with examples.

Read Acts 2:14-21 and Joel 2:28-32. Joel 2 looks forward to the "Day of the Lord." The Old Testament "Day of the Lord" referred to times in which God would intervene in human history in a dramatic way that showed his glory, therefore, the Jews understood that there would be many "Days of the Lord."

Discuss how Peter interprets the gift of the Spirit in Acts 2 as a fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2. Give examples.