Luke-Acts as Scripture Speaking from and to Migration

Abstract

The world in the text (the text itself) and world behind the text (the background history) of the Christian Scriptures in the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles contain many significant stories, experiences, lessons and reflections that arguably speak from the experience of migration itself or related issues such as displacement, marginalization, inclusion or exclusion, among others. Moreover, Luke-Acts is also a classical work that speaks to the experience of migration and its component dimensions. This Lucan saga is replete with stories of “migrants,” such as Jesus, Peter and Paul, who are constantly on the move, establishing the reign of God everywhere they go. Besides, Luke’s ultimate aim is most probably to argue that the Gentiles, long considered to be “outsiders” in the covenant between God and Israel, are now finally included and an integral part of God’s plan of salvation for the whole world. For these reasons and many others, Luke-Acts is one of the richest resources that the Church has in its treasury of classics which it can use to connect with, speak to and reflect on migrants and migration in today’s world.