Author

The third Gospel and Acts seem to have the same author.

• Both books are addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1).
• The author of Acts refers to a previous book, probably the third Gospel (Acts 1:1).
• Scholars say there is a similarity of style in the books [Norval Geldenhuys, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, p. 15].

The author of Acts was a companion of Paul.

• The use of the first person shows the author traveled with Paul.

 From Troas to Philippi during the second missionary journey (Acts 6:10-17).

 From Philippi to Jerusalem during the third missionary journey (Acts 20:5-21:18).

 On the journey to Rome (Acts 27:1-28:16).

• Luke was a companion of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11).

The early church taught that Luke was the author of the third Gospel. Some of the witnesses include the following:

• Marcion (about AD 135). This heretic rejected the Old Testament. He published an edition of the third Gospel that removed passages disagreeing with his doctrine [Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible (ZPEB), 4:72. For Marcion's identity of the author of the third Gospel, see Walter L. Liefeld, Luke, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 8:799].
• Justin Martyr (about AD 150)[Geldenhuys, p. 18, who footnotes J. M. Creed, The Gospel According to St. Luke, p. xiii]. He was an early apologist [Dictionary of the Christian Church (DCC), p. 558].
• The Anti-Marcionite Prologue to the Third Gospel (AD 160-180).

"Luke was an Antiochian of Syria, a physician by profession. He was a disciple of the apostles and later accompanied Paul until the latter’s martyrdom. He served the Lord without distraction [or ‘without blame’], having neither wife nor children, and at the age of eighty-four he fell asleep in Boeotia, full of the Holy Spirit. While there were already Gospels previously in existence—that according to Matthew written in Judaea and that according to Mark in Italy—Luke, moved by the Holy spirit, composed the whole of this Gospel in the parts about Achaia. In his prologue he makes this very point clear, that other Gospels had been written before his, and that it was necessary to expound to the Gentile believers the accurate account of the [divine] dispensation, so that they should not be perverted by Jewish fables, nor be deceived by heretical and vain imaginations and thus err from the truth. . . . And afterwards the same Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles [Geldenhuys, pp. 17-18]."

• Irenaeus’ "Against Heresy (about AD 185). Irenaeus was the Bishop of Lyons [DCC, p. 516].

"But surely if Luke, who always preached in company with Paul, and is called by him "the beloved," and with him performed the work of an evangelist, and was entrusted to hand down to us a Gospel, learned nothing different from him (Paul), . . . [Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers - Ante-Nicene, (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software) 1999. From "Against Heresy," iii, 1 and 2. See also the sections that follow.]."

• Muratorian Canon (about AD 180-190). This is an ancient list of New Testament books discovered by L. A. Muratori (1672-1750)[ZPRB, 4:311].

"The third book of the Gospel, according to Luke, Luke that physician, who after the ascension of Christ, when Paul had taken him with him as companion of his journey, composed in his own name on the basis of report [Liefeld, p. 799]."

• Clement of Alexandria (perhaps AD 190-202). He was the first know Christian scholar [Geldenhuys, p. 18. For information on Clement of Alexandria see DCC, p. 234.]. 

• Origen (lived approximately AD 185-254). Origenes Adamantius was an Alexandrian theologian [DCC, p. 733].

"Among the four Gospels, which are the only indisputable ones in the Church of God under heaven, I have learned by tradition that . . . And the third by Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, and composed for Gentile converts [Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers - Nicene/Post Nicene Part 2, (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software) 1999. Origen's words are dound in Eusebius' work, Historia Ecclesiastica, vi, 25,3. Origen comments on Psalm 1]."

• Tertullian (lived approximately AD 160/70-215/20). Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus was an African moralist, apologist, and theologian [DCC, p. 960. Geldenhuys, p. 18, indicates Tertullian credited the third Gospel to Like.].

• Jerome (lived approximately AD 345-419). Eusebius Hieronymus was a Biblical scholar and translator [DCC, p. 528].

"Luke a physician of Antioch as his writings gas [sic] indicate was not unskilled in the Greek language. An adherent of the apostle Paul, and companion of all his journeying, he wrote a Gospel, concerning which the same Paul says, ‘We send with him a brother whose praise in the gospel is among all the churches’ and to the Colossians ‘Luke the beloved physician salutes you, and to Timothy ‘Luke only is with me.’ He also wrote another excellent volume to which he prefixed the title Acts of the Apostles, a history which extends to the second year of Paul’s sojourn at Rome, that is to the fourth year of Nero, from which we learn that the book was composed in that same city [Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers - Nicene/Post Nicene Part 2, (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software) 1999. This is a quote from De Viris Illustribus, vii]."

 

Luke was a Gentile. In Colossians 4:10-11, Paul lists the Jews who were with him and then lists Luke. Apparently Luke was not a Jew.

Luke was a physician.

• So says Colossians 4:14.

• Church Fathers confirm Luke was a physician. See the Anti-Marcionite Prologue, the Muratorian Canon, and Jerome, above.

• Scholars believe Luke used medical terminology and had a special interest in medical themes [Geldenhuys, p. 20].

 For example here are some medical terms:

 The following are also thought to be additional evidences of special interest in medical topics (NASV):

 ". . . she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all (Luke 13:11)."

 ". . . she was dying (Luke 8:42)."

 ". . . to be healed of their diseases; . . . (Luke 6:18)."

 ". . . perform cures today and tomorrow, . . . (Luke 13:32)."

 ". . . who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed (Acts 9:33)."

Purpose 

The purpose of the Gospel of Luke is to strengthen Theophilus with a carefully researched account of the events from the pregnancy of His mother through His ascension (1:1-4).

Possible identities of Theophilus (1:3):

• The title, "most excellent," could have reference to an important Roman official.

• Theophilus could have been a wealthy person who financed the publishing of his Gospel.

Sources Luke may have used in his careful research (1:1-2).

• The Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Both may have been written prior to Luke [See the introductions to these Gospels in the Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition].

• Companions and contacts during his travels (e.g., second and third missionary journey and the trip to Rome). This would include the Apostle Paul and eyewitnesses in Jerusalem. See above.

Census 

Interpretations exist of Luke 2:2 that interface successfully with the witness of other ancient documents.

Background:

• Kurhvniou: It is important to understand that "Cyrenius" and "Quirinius" are English representations of the same word, "Kurhvniou," in the Greek text.

• Hgemonveuovntos: Also, "hgemonveuovntos," though translated "governor" in some English versions, does not refer to a leadership position of "governor" but rather refers to a more generic term like "leader" without reference to rank [William F. Arndt & F. Wilbur Gingrich, "A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature," p. 343].

• Did Quirinius conduct a census during the reign of Herod the Great? The problem is that the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (lived between 37 to100+ AD) [DCC, p. 549] states that Quirinius was Governor over an area including Judea in 6 AD.

"When Cyrenius had now disposed of Archelaus’s money, and when the taxings were come to a conclusion, which were made in the thirty-seventh year of Caesar’s victory over Antony at Actium, he deprived Joazar of the high priesthood, which dignity had been conferred on him by the multitude, and he appointed Ananus, the son of Seth, to be high priest; while Herod and Philip had each of them received their own tetrarchy, and settled the affairs thereof. Herod also built a wall about Sepphoris, (which is the security of all Galilee,) and made it the metropolis of the country [Found in Josephus, Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" (Garland, Texas: Electronic edition by Galaxie Software) 1999, XVIII:2:1]."

This is the census mentioned in Acts 5:37:

"After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered (NASV)."

Herod the Great’s reign was from 37 to 4 BC (H. Wayne House, "Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament," p. 63]. How would it be possible for Quirinius’ census to be conducted during Herod the Great’s reign?

Two Solutions:

• "Prothw" can be translated "before [Ibid., p. 733]." The translation might then be, "This census was before that made when Quirinius was governor [Liefeld, 8:843]." The problem would be eradicated because the reigns of Quirinius and Herod the Great would not need to be overlapped. Someone other than Quirinius conducted the earlier census.

• Though not mentioned by Josephus and though Quirinius was not Governor, he did have a leadership position over Judea during the reign of Herod the Great. Justin Martyr (lived about 100 to 165 AD) [DCC, p. 558] indicated that Quirinius was procurator, not Governor, over Judea at the time our Lord was born:

"Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty-five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judaea [Justin Martyr, "Apology," Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers - Ante-Nicene, (Garland, TX: Galaxie Soaftware) 1999]."

Tertullian (lived about 160/70 to 215/20 AD) [DCC, p. 960] indicated that Saturninus took the census:

"But there is historical proof that at this very time a census had been taken in Judaea by Sentius Saturninus, which might have satisfied their inquiry respecting the family and descent of Christ [Tertullian, "Against Marcion," Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers - Ante-Nicene, (Garland, TX: Galaxie Software 1999, 4:19]."

So, it is possible that Quirinius was Procurator over Judea under Governor Saturninus. Later Quirinius served as Governor of Syria, which included Judea. At that time he conducted a second census. 

Click on the following pages for further information:

Harmony of the Gospels

The Earthly Life of Christ

  Ó 2000-2002, Ken Bowles -- June 08, 2002, Edition

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