theophilus Summary and Overview

lover of God, a Christian, probably a Roman, to whom Luke dedicated both his Gospel (Luke 1:3) and the Acts of the Apostles (1:1). Nothing beyond this is known of him. From the fact that Luke applies to him the title "most excellent", the same title Paul uses in addressing Felix (Acts 23:26; 24:3) and Festus (26:25), it has been concluded that Theophilus was a person of rank, perhaps a Roman officer.

(friend of God) the person to whom St. Luke inscribes his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. #Lu 1:3; Ac 1:1| From the honorable epithet applied to him in #Lu 1:3| it has been argued with much probability that he was a person in high official position. All that can be conjectured with any degree of safety concerning him comes to this, that he was a Gentile of rank and consideration who came under the influence of St. Luke or under that of St. Paul at Rome, and was converted to the Christian faith.

THEOPH'ILUS (lover of God), a distinguished individual, probably of Greece or Rome, to whom, as his particular friend or patron, Luke addressed both his Gospel and his history of the Acts of the Apostles. Luke 1:3. The title "most excellent" probably denotes official dignity. Acts 23:26; 1 Sam 24:3; and Gen 26:25.

Called "most excellent" or "noble" (kratiste), a magisterial designation (Luke 1:3; Acts 1; compare Acts 23:26; Acts 24:3; Acts 26:25). Luke addressed both his works, forming one whole in two parts, to him, in order to give a more orderly written narrative, from the very beginning clown to the journey of Paul to Rome, of those truths in which he had been "instructed" orally (katechethes). Tradition connects Theophilus with Antioch. The special adaptation of Luke's Gospel to Gentiles implies Theophilus was a Gentile. The "epithet" kratiste implies his rank, as also does the more elegant style of Luke's dedication (Luke 1:1-4) as compared with that of, the rest of the Gospel which is more derived from existing brief memoirs embodied by the evangelist. The idea of Theophilus being an imaginary person (the name meaning "friend of God") is at variance with the simplicity of the New Testament writers and especially the evangelists.