Home/History of Christianity/People/Luke
Luke
The physician who traveled with Paul, wrote the longest gospel, and produced the only history of the early church we possess.
Luke is described by Paul as “ our dear friend Luke, the doctor” (Col. 4:14). He was a companion on some of Paul’ s journeys — the famous “ we” passages in Acts (16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16) indicate that the author was present. He was almost certainly a Gentile, and the only New Testament author who was not Jewish.
The Two-Volume Work
Luke wrote the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles as a single two-volume work. Together they are longer than any other contribution to the New Testament, and they contain more historical detail than all the other gospels combined.
His opening dedication is a model of ancient historiographical method:
“ Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they we're handed down to us by those who from the first we're eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.”
Luke 1:1-3Historian and Companion
Luke traveled with Paul on portions of his journeys. He was with Paul during the voyage to Rome (Acts 27–28), and he was with him near the end of his life (2 Tim. 4:11). The classical historian A. N. Sherwin-White concluded that the narrative of Acts is confirmed by Roman administrative details to an “ overwhelming” degree — a judgment that has been repeatedly reinforced by archaeological and documentary evidence.
Luke’ s Gospel is also distinctive for its concern for outsiders: women, Samaritans, the poor, the sick, tax collectors, and Gentiles. It contains the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Magnificat. It is the only gospel with the story of the thief on the cross, the only one with the parable of the persistent widow, and the only one that records Jesus’ words from the cross: “ Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Sources
- Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon 24; the “ we” passages in Acts.
- A. N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament (Oxford, 1963), 189.
- I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC; Eerdmans, 1978).
- Craig S. Keener, Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, 4 vols. (Baker Academic, 2012–2015).