Vol. 11 No.10 –June, 2013

The Book of Luke

Mike Johnson

 Luke wrote the book of Luke as well as the book of Acts.  These two books are very similar in style.  A man named Theophilus was addressed in each book.  Luke and Acts are sometimes called companion books.  Acts is actually a continuation of Luke.  It seems that Luke’s goal was to tell the whole story of Christianity.

Luke was actually a physician.  Paul referred to him as “the beloved physician.”  Luke refers to healing in his writings and uses more technical medical language in describing the healing done by Christ than Matthew and Mark.  In the story of the camel going through the eye of the needle, for example, Matthew and Mark used the term for the ordinary needle used in sewing, while Luke used the term for a surgeon’s needle.

Luke frequently traveled with Paul.  For this reason, we know quite a lot about the activities of Luke.  We know that he was with Paul when Colossians was written as well as when Philemon was penned.  II Timothy 4:11 makes it clear that he was with Paul during his second imprisonment.

The book of Luke is sometimes called the most literary and beautiful of the gospel accounts.  It is said to tell the “perfect humanity” of Christ.  The book gives us the most complete account of the birth, childhood, growth, domestic, and social life of Jesus.  Luke also says a lot about prayer in his book.  In fact, eleven of the fifteen times that Christ is presented as praying in the gospel accounts are found in the book of Luke.

The purpose of the book is stated in Luke 1:1-4.  Here he reveals that he will trace the course of events accurately concerning the things that they believed and set the facts in order.  Verse four says, in speaking to Theophilus, “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

Surely much good can be obtained from this valuable book.  Have you read a good book lately?  Try reading the very important book of Luke.