What are Some Things we Know About Luke?

What are some things we know about Luke?

First, we should note, the author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are both from Luke’s pen.  Luke was most likely from Antioch in Syria and then later spent considerable time in Philippi.  There are a number of references to both cities in the book indicating his interest in those cities (11:19-27; 13:1-3; 14:26; 15:22, 35; 18:22: 16:12).  Luke was most likely a convert from the Gentile world although there are some who deny this.  Colossians chapter 4:10-14 seems to lend support for the argument against Luke being a Jew for Paul says in verse 11 the previous were the only ones of the circumcision among his fellow workers and goes on in verse 14 to give the Colossians Luke’s greeting.  We do not have a record of Luke’s conversion but it may be when men from Cyprus and Cyrene came and preached to the Greek speaking non-Jews in Antioch (11:19ff).  

There has been a lot of interesting stories that concern Luke because we do not know a lot about him. It has been suggested that Luke was the slave of Theophilus and after recognizing Luke’s intelligence, he enrolled him in medical school at Tarsus.  It was at Tarsus that Luke met Saul and the two became good friends and it was because of this relationship that Luke was converted to the Christian faith.  After Luke’s conversion Theophilus became interested in the Christian faith so Luke dedicated Luke-Acts to him. 

It is clear that Luke was a medical doctor from several passages in the New Testament such as Colossians 4:14, Luke the beloved physician greets you…”  One does not have to stretch his/her imagination too far to grasp how important Luke the doctor might have been to Paul, for he accompanied Paul on his journeys and faced many times of affliction (2 Cor. 6:4ff).  We must also remember that Luke was not only helpful to Paul because of his medical knowledge but because of his skill as an evangelist and fellow worker (Philemon 24). 

Hendriksen, William ; Kistemaker, Simon J.: New Testament Commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke. Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1953-2001 (New Testament Commentary 11), S. 9