Define the Synoptic Gospels.

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The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke because they share a very similar sequence of events and many of the same stories about Jesus’ life, ministry, and miracles. The term “synoptic” comes from Greek and means “seen together,” reflecting how their accounts line up side by side in comparable ways. They likely relied on common sources, which is why they read in a parallel way and can be studied together to spot similarities and differences. The Gospel of John stands apart in style, chronology, and content, focusing more on long teachings and a different portrayal of Jesus, so it isn’t included in this group. Among the options, naming Matthew, Mark, and Luke captures the idea of a shared perspective—hence the phrase about seeing with one eye. The other statements don’t define the set accurately: the Synoptics aren’t all four Gospels, and John is not included; and being written in sync with Acts isn’t the defining criterion.