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, and many call them companion books as Acts is a continuation of Luke.  It seems Luke’s goal was to tell the whole story of Christianity. He also addressed a man named Theophilus in each book.

Luke was a physician.  Paul referred to him as “the beloved physician.”  Luke refers to healing in his writings. Compared to the other gospel accounts, he uses a more technical medical language to describe the healing done by Christ.  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 word for a surgeon’s needle.

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

Many call the book of Luke, the most literary and beautiful of the gospel accounts, as it reveals the “perfect humanity” of Christ.  It gives us a more complete presentation of the birth, childhood, growth, domestic, and social life of Jesus than the other gospel accounts.  Luke also says a lot about prayer in his book.  Eleven of the fifteen times in the gospel accounts where it says that Christ prayed are in the book of Luke.

The purpose of the book is 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 4 says, in speaking to Theophilus, “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

The book of Luke is valuable.  Have you read a good book lately?  Try reading the very important book of Luke.