Luke in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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Who is Luke?
LUKE
(Greek Lucas), Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; Phile 24, is probably an abbreviation of Lucanus, possibly of Lucilius, but not of Lucius. Acts 13:1; Rom 16:21. The evangelist was not a Jew, as is evident from Col 4:14, where the "beloved physician" is distinguished from "those of the circumcision." The opinion that he was a native of Antioch may have arisen from confounding him with Lucius. That he was one of the Seventy or of the two who were walking to Emmaus is unlikely, as he was not himself an "eye-witness," Col 1:2, of the gospel facts. According to the N.T., he was a physician, and his style in general, as well as his mode of describing diseases, proves him to have been an educated physician. Tradition adds that he was also a painter. He comes into historical prominence as the companion of Paul in his later journeys, though his presence is modestly indicated in his own narrative only by the change to the first person plural. Joining the apostle at Troas, Acts 16:10, he accompanied him to Philippi on his second journey; rejoining him some years later at the same place, Acts 20:5, he remained with Paul until the close of his first Roman captivity. Acts 28:30. Of his subsequent life nothing certain is known. According to common consent and internal evidence, he is the author of the Gospel named after him, and of the Acts. Luke, The Gospel of, was written primarily for the use of one Theophilus. Luke 1:3. As this name means "lover of God," some have supposed that it ought to be applied to any Christian reader in general, but it is better to refer it to a person of high rank ("most excellent," equivalent to our word "honorable"), who was either a convert or a catechumen. To the same person the Acts are dedicated. Acts 1:1. The minute description of places in Palestine indicates that this person was not an inhabitant of that country, while the mention of small places in Italy as familiarly known. Acts 27:8-16, makes it probable that his home was at Rome -- a view confirmed by the abrupt conclusion of Acts. In any case, he was a Gentile, and the Gospel was designed mainly for Gentile Christians, representing the universal import of the coming of Christ for all nations and for all classes of men. This agreement with Paul is a natural result from the close personal intimacy between the apostle and the author, but there is no evidence that Paul dictated the Gospel or referred to it as his Gospel. 2 Tim 2:8. The verbal resemblances, especially in the account of the words of institution of the Lord's Supper, Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25, are such as would naturally result from companionship with Paul. In other respects the peculiarities of the third Gospel are marked. The style closely resembles that of the Acts, but has a larger number of Hebraisms, especially in the first two chapters, which indicate the use of Hebrew documents by the evangelist. Where he describes scenes he had witnessed himself, the style is far more pure. A large number of words are peculiar to Luke, and to him we are indebted for nearly all the chronological notices which link the Gospel facts with ancient history in general. The narrative is more complete than the others, and contains several portions peculiar to it; as, for instance, the account of the Nativity, the presentation in the temple, the miraculous draught of fishes, the sending out of the Seventy, the parables of the Good Samaritan, the Barren Fig Tree, the Lost Sheep, the Prodigal Son, the Unjust Steward, Dives and Lazarus, etc. The Gospel was written before the destruction of Jerusalem, and also before the Acts. Acts 1:1. It is probable that it was written at Caesarea in Palestine during Paul's imprisonment there, 58-60. Some, however, date it still earlier. LUKE'WARM denotes the indifferent, who receive the call from the Lord, but, without either accepting or formally refusing it, remain entirely unimpressed by it. Rev 3:16.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'luke' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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