The call stories in Luke: The use of type-scene for Lucan meaning

Throughout much of the Old Testament there is a type-scene for a call story. Numerous call stories follow this formulaic and conventional model for telling the narrative, and Luke adopts and appropriates the model to his own call stories. Luke has five clear calls stories: Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds, the disciples while fishing, and the post-resurrection appearance to the disciples in the upper room. Although many authors have noticed the form of the call story, little attention is paid to how Luke uses the convention differently in each individual episode. This article argues that Luke skillfully alters the type-scene by omitting pieces or emphasizing pieces in order to create meaning. It is the argument of this article that noticing the presence of a call story type-scene is only the first step; the payoff comes when we notice how the pattern varies from scene to scene. It is in the variations that Luke creates compelling narratives.