Luke 1:1

Now ¹  many have undertaken to compile an account ²  of the things ³  that have been fulfilled ⁴  among us,

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

Most honorable Theophilus: Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us.

So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us,

As a number of attempts have been made to put together in order an account of those events which took place among us,

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

Now ¹  many have undertaken to compile an account ²  of the things ³  that have been fulfilled ⁴  among us,

¹ tn Grk “Since” or “Because.” This begins a long sentence that extends through v. 4. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, the Greek sentence has been divided up into shorter English sentences in the translation.

² tn This is sometimes translated “narrative,” but the term itself can refer to an oral or written account. It is the verb “undertaken” which suggests a written account, since it literally is “to set one’s hand” to something (BDAG 386 s.v. ἐπιχειρέω). “Narrative” is too specific, denoting a particular genre of work for the accounts that existed in the earlier tradition. Not all of that material would have been narrative.

³ tn Or “events.”

⁴ tn Or “have been accomplished.” Given Luke’s emphasis on divine design (e.g., Luke 24:43-47) a stronger sense (“fulfilled”) is better than a mere reference to something having taken place (“accomplished”).