Publisher's Synopsis
For two thousand years Christians have believed, and taught others, that Luke's Gospel and The Acts of the Apostles contain historical and biographical information about the founders of their faith. Agnostics and atheists consider Luke and Acts to be nothing more than fantastic myths, written by and about superstitious, religious zealots. Neither side has ever considered that the other might be right, or that they, themselves, might be wrong. Gabriel's Gift: The Messages and Mysteries in Luke and Acts, proves that these biblical accounts of early Christianity contain accurate biographical and historical information. It proves that Luke and Acts were written by a skilled and educated historian, and supporter of Jesus, who abhorred superstition. And it reveals Luke's identity, unknown until now. But before the Christians call for a celebration of their victory in this two thousand year old debate, there's a catch: Gabriel's Gift also proves that Luke and Acts contain references to pagan myths and legends, some ancient, that were popular at the time Luke sat down to write his two books. Luke plagiarized a substantial amount of material from earlier Christian writers, primarily Mark and the unknown "Q." And he also took material from the Old Testament, Euripides, Homer, and other epic and classical literature from antiquity. However, these acts of plagiarism were not due to laziness or a desire to deceive. The purpose was to preserve the truth. Luke's actions were not initiated to further the belief in mythology as fact. They were undertaken to tell what was happening to Jesus' doctrine in the first century. Luke is, without doubt, the most adept writer of biographical and historical documents to ever master the craft. He used a clever technique that virtually assured the intact transmission of his message. It has been said that "History is written by the victor." An avid student of history, Luke had become aware of that fact. And he was acutely aware that the "victors' historical account" would not be "The Truth" that Jesus and his disciples taught. He was determined not to let that happen. One of the most popular of ancient legends in the first century was the story of the war between the Greeks and Trojans and of the magnificent success of the Trojan Horse. Luke devised a plan that trumped even that brilliant military maneuver. His plan, in essence, also utilized a Trojan Horse, but it was one that would be built by the enemy. Luke was able to predict the raw materials that would go into its construction, so he quietly and secretly created and furnished these materials. The "Trojan Horse" became known as the Holy Bible; the raw materials that Luke provided were the stories in Luke's Gospel and The Acts of the Apostles. Gabriel's Gift is the first book ever written that reveals how and why Luke wrote his stories as he did; it reveals how he exposed the lies and deceptions of the "victors." Luke's ingenuity, and his ability to accurately predict the future based on his knowledge of the past, will be the key in Jesus' ultimate triumph over the false prophets about whom He warned. There is a triumphant message within the pages of this book for the true Christians, those who want to know Jesus the Nazarene Christ and want to honor his message. But there is also triumph for the agnostics and atheists who have been unable to accept many of the rituals and requirements of the various traditional and fundamentalist churches. The exciting thing about Gabriel's Gift, and about Luke's ultimate triumph over the false prophets and antichrists is that everyone is a winner. The Bible does contain The Truth about God and about Jesus and the Nazarenes. It just isn't the God, the Jesus, or The Truth most Christians have believed it to be. Gabriel's Gift is for Christians, agnostics, and atheists who believe they know the truth about Jesus. It is a fascinating documentary of mystery and intrigue in the first cen
