The Money-loving, the Rich, the Tax-Collector, and the Gentile

Unexpected Calls to Discipleship in Luke and Acts

Abstract

This article explores the call and cost of discipleship in Luke and Acts for those would-be followers of Jesus who are wealthy or otherwise antagonistically inclined toward Luke’s gospel message. I argue that Luke’s vision includes not only a proclaiming of good news to the poor, but also a call and invitation to unexpected groups of followers. While marginalized groups are rightly associated with Luke’s overarching project—as programmatically stated in Luke 4:18—the call to discipleship is also proclaimed to householders, people of material wealth, and eventually to householding Gentiles in Luke’s second volume. Even the Pharisees, who on the surface appear to be grumbling and questioning Jesus’ ministry, offer valuable insight into the call and cost of being a follower of Jesus. Moreover, both Luke and Acts are addressed to a “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3; cf. Acts 1:1), framing the literary project as written for a wealthy patron or benefactor. Finally, the social agenda demanding radical redistribution of wealth to benefit the poor implies Luke’s project addresses those followers (and/or readers) responsible for realizing this economic potential. We might think of these calls to discipleship to different social groups as complementary parts of Luke’s economy of salvation.