We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16
Luke was a Greek doctor, Colossians 4:10-14, who converted to Christianity early in the First Century. After his conversion he became a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, accompanying him on his missionary journeys and staying with Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome. Philemon 1:24, 2 Timothy 4:11 Given the fact that Paul and his missionary companions were frequently attacked, beaten, and imprisoned, Acts 14:19, Acts 16:20, 2 Corinthians 11:24, 2 Timothy 3:11, it was a mercy from God that the physician Luke was with them to treat their many wounds. In a way, Luke was the first medical missionary, but he was much more than a doctor. Luke was also an eyewitness historian who documented the triumph of Christ.
After becoming a believer, Luke, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, wrote a detailed account of Christ’s life for a high-ranking Roman official, the Most Excellent Theophilus. His history, known as The Gospel of Luke begins:
Luke 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 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, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Frequently today we are taught that Christianity is simply a matter of blind faith. Religious faith is thought to be subjective. Many teach that religious faith is based on feelings. Religion is thought to rest exclusively on subjective emotional and spiritual feelings, but notice, that is not the basis for Luke’s faith. That is not the basis of Christianity. Being a rational physician, Luke, like an attentive judge trying to determine the truth, carefully investigated the eyewitness evidence for the life, death and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ and concluded that the eyewitness accounts were both trustworthy and true. As he travelled with Paul and Peter, Luke had opportunity to meet with many of the other Apostles, including the brothers and mother of the Lord. As he compiled all of these eyewitness reports he wrote an orderly account for Theophilus.
Why did Luke write this historical account?
Luke wrote about Christ so that Theophilus, as well as all future generations, including you and your family, could know the certainty of the life changing truth of the Gospel. So that you could understand and believe that Christ came offering you both truth; forgiveness from sins, and the freedom from guilt, meaninglessness, futility, and death, that salvation brings. John 8:32 So that knowing of Christ’s resurrection you too could be assured of everlasting life.
It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all of the nations. Luke 24:46-47
Repentance for the forgiveness of sins, keep that phrase in mind. Repentance for sins is a subject that is rarely spoken of today, but it is central to the writings of Luke. It is central to the Bible and central to the work of Christ. Having written the detailed history of Christ’s life in the Gospel of Luke, Luke proceeded to document the history of the early church in the book known as The Acts of the Apostles.
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