By Sheila Banks
Communications Specialist
Despite growing up in the church from birth, it somehow escaped me that the Gospel of Luke, written by Luke, was not written by an eyewitness to the life and works of Jesus. It is very likely that Luke never even met Jesus. So, who was Luke?
Luke was a close associate of St. Paul and part of the early church. He is mentioned three times in the New Testament. Paul references him in Colossians 4:14 (ESV) as “Luke the beloved physician.” In Philemon 24 (ESV), Luke is listed as one of Paul’s “fellow workers.” And in 2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV), Paul shares that “Luke alone is with me.”
Luke wrote two books of the New Testament: the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, which make up over one quarter of the New Testament.
As a physician, Luke was an educated man, and his writing reflects his education.
In Luke 1:1-4 (ESV), he expresses his desire to establish the authenticity and trustworthiness of the Christian message. He desires to provide an “orderly account” of the life and works of Jesus Christ as shared by eyewitnesses. In his dedication to provide accurate accounts, he shares historical details, including cities, rulers, and dates. This information matches other historical accounts, making him a reliable source.
Luke had a universal outlook. The emphasis in his writings is on Jesus as the Savior of the world, not just for the Jewish people. The Book of Luke highlights the big picture of Christianity, connecting the dots of the Old Testament to its fulfillment in Christ.
More than any other author in the New Testament, he refers to Jesus as the “Son of Man,” focusing on Jesus’ compassion and accessibility for all humanity. In particular, Luke includes stories with women and children, the poor and desolate, and people who were outcasts at the time.
Britannica, a research website, says of Luke’s focus, that “Luke’s Gospel is clearly written for Gentile converts: it traces Christ’s genealogy, for example, back to Adam, the ‘father’ of the human race rather than to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people.”
The Book of Acts is a continuation of what the Lord Jesus is doing through the work of the Holy Spirit. It includes the expansion of the gospel and of the church. In chapter 16, Luke’s terminology changes from “they” to “we” indicating that Luke had joined with the group spreading the gospel, and, from this point on, he is giving a first-hand account.
Combined, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts convey the first Christian history, outlining God’s purpose through three historical stages: the Law and prophets, the ministry of Jesus, and the church’s mission.
So, who was Luke? He was an educated man who valued accuracy in sharing the story of Jesus Christ and the formation of the early church, who connected the dots between the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Christ; a man who recognized that Jesus came for all humankind; and a reliable source who wrote over one quarter of the New Testament, so that for generations after him, countless people could read and come to know and grow in faith in Jesus Christ.