Introduction
Luke (Greek: Loukas ho Antiocheios) was born circa AD 15 (3775–3776 in the Hebrew calendar) in the Roman province of Syria. There are only three explicit mentions of Luke in the New Testament, all by Paul of Tarsus. He was a physician (iatros; G2395; from the verb iaomai; G2390, "to heal") from Antioch and a Christian Gentile. Paul wrote:
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. . . . Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings (Col. 4:10-11, 14).
Paul only mentioned Luke twice more: 1) When he instructed Timothy, "Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry" (2 Tim. 4:11), and 2) When he wrote to Philemon, "Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers" (Phlm. 1:23-24).
However, Luke wrote about 28% of the New Testament, more than any other writers, including Paul. There is a gospel ascribed to him and its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. Luke was an ethnic Syrian and hinted at his Antiochian heritage throughout Acts. He mentioned Antioch many times, showing an element of civic pride (see Acts 6:5; 11:19-30; 13:1; 14:26-28; 15:22, 30-35; 18:22). Luke also represented his hometown when he wrote how Jesus' followers were first called "Christians" at Antioch (see Acts 11:26).
Luke the Evangelist
Luke was not an eyewitness (autoptēs; G845, "self-seeing") to Jesus' ministry. He admitted this at the beginning of his account:
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were 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, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:1-4).
Luke also dedicated his sequel to Theophilus:
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3).
Luke was one of Paul's main traveling companions. This is clear in the five "we" passages in Acts: (see 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-37; 28:1-16). Luke had direct access to the apostles and other eyewitnesses to Jesus' life and teaching—especially Mark, the synoptic gospel author who wrote first. Luke investigated what others had written about Jesus and decided to pen one of his own. He addressed it to Theophilus, which could refer stylistically to any reader as a "lover of God" (Theos; G2316; phileō; G5368). However, "most excellent" was a required greeting for Roman officials, so Theophilus was most likely a high-ranking man who wanted to know more about Jesus.
Luke was the church's earliest historian, writing in the Greek historiographical tradition. His epic travel narratives of Jesus "setting his face" to go to Jerusalem and Paul sailing to Rome (see Luke 9:51; Acts 27) read famous Greco-Roman stories like the Odyssey. Luke's skillful narrative technique not only resonated with Greco-Roman literary conventions but also served to convey profound theological themes to his audience. Through his detailed accounts, Luke intertwines the earthly journeys of Jesus and Paul with the divine purpose underlying their missions, emphasizing the universal significance of their messages.
Luke the Physician
Luke's work focused more on Gentiles, women, and outcasts than the other three gospels—the compassion of a medical professional. Furthermore, Luke's knowledge of history and geography is outstanding. He also used specific Greek medical terms that do not exist anywhere else in the Bible. For example, Luke's record about the man suffering from dropsy featured the clinical word hudropikos (G5203, "looking watery"). This term often appears in ancient Greek medical literature, especially by Hippocrates of Cos (c. 460–c. 375 BC)—who wrote the Hippocratic Oath, which is still adhered to by physicians today.
Another example of Luke using a medical term not found elsewhere in the Bible occurs in Acts 28:3 ("Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand"). The word kathēpsen (G2510, trans. "fastened" in the New International Version) was a technical word used by Greek physicians to describe poison entering the body. The medical terms pimprasthai (G4092, "become inflamed") and katapiptein (G2667, "to fall") also only appear in the Bible in Luke's writing (see Acts 28:6). We may also find them in the Hippocratic works of Aretaeus of Cappadocia (fl. second century) and Galen of Pergamon (AD 129–c. 216).
Luke also used the medical jargon of his day: "His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured" (Acts 28:8-9). The Greek statement puretois kai dusenteriō sunechomenon, "suffering from fever and dysentery," was included in ancient medical writings. Matthew and Mark both used the singular puretos (G4446) to describe a fever. However, Luke always featured the plural puretoi and puretois ("fevers")—the correct medical usage in line with Hippocratic writings.
Patristic Prologue of Luke
The patristic writer of this prologue for Luke (c. AD 150–400) claimed:
Indeed, Luke was an Antiochene Syrian, a doctor by profession, and a disciple of the apostles; later, however, he followed Paul until his martyrdom, serving the Lord blamelessly. He never had a wife, he never fathered children, and died at the age of eighty-four, full of the Holy Spirit, in Boetia. Therefore—although gospels had already been written—indeed by Matthew in Judaea by Mark in Italy—moved by the Holy Spirit, he wrote down this gospel in the parts of Achaia, signifying in the preface that the others were written before his, but also that it was of the most significant importance for him to expound with the greatest diligence the whole series of events in his narration for the Greek believers so that they would not be led astray by the lure of Jewish fables, or, seduced by the fables of the heretics and stupid solicitations, fall away from the truth. So at once at the start, he took up the essential [story] from the birth of John, who is the beginning of the gospel, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ, and was a companion in the perfecting of the people, likewise in the introducing of baptism and a companion in martyrdom. The prophet Malachi, one of the twelve, certainly mentions this disposition. Indeed, afterward, the same Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles. Later, the apostle John wrote the Apocalypse on the island of Patmos and then the Gospel in Asia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the figure of Luke, though sparingly mentioned in the New Testament by Paul, emerges as a significant and influential character in early Christianity. Born in Syrian Antioch, Luke was a skilled physician and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Despite being a Gentile, he played a crucial role in spreading the message of Christianity through his writing. Luke's contributions to the New Testament are immense, as he authored approximately 28% of its content, including the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Through his meticulous accounts and historical narrative, Luke provided invaluable insights into the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus and the growth and expansion of the early Christian movement. His Antiochian heritage is evident throughout his writings, indicating a sense of pride in his hometown and its pivotal role in the spread of Christianity. Luke's portrayal of Antioch as a significant center for early Christian activity underscores the diversity and cosmopolitan nature of the early Christian community. Ultimately, Luke stands as a testament to the inclusive nature of Christianity, transcending cultural and ethnic boundaries to proclaim the message of salvation to all peoples. His legacy continues to inspire believers and scholars alike, reminding us of the power of faith, dedication, and the written word in shaping the course of history.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the universe; for you called your servant Luke to be an evangelist and physician of the soul. Grant that, by the wholesome medicine of the doctrine he taught, all the diseases of our souls may be healed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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