Introduction to Luke
The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14), to his friend Theophilus to assure him that the story of Jesus was true and trustworthy. Luke wanted Theophilus—and all Gentile readers—to know with confidence that God had indeed fulfilled His purposes through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Writing around A.D. 70–75 from an unknown location, Luke carefully researched his material, drawing from eyewitness accounts and early traditions, including Mark’s Gospel. His work, along with the book of Acts, makes up over one-fourth of the New Testament, giving us a sweeping narrative from the birth of Jesus to the birth of the church.
Author
Luke was not one of the apostles, nor an earthly disciple of Jesus, but he became a faithful companion to the apostle Paul on portions of his missionary journeys. The “we” passages in Acts (Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–21:18; 27:1–28:16) reveal his firsthand participation in the spread of the gospel. Highly educated and widely read, Luke was both a physician and a historian, recording the Christian tradition with accuracy and care. A Gentile himself, he wrote with sensitivity to a non-Jewish audience, avoiding unnecessary debates about Jewish law and emphasizing instead the universal scope of salvation in Jesus Christ. His background as a doctor also gave him a keen interest in healings and the compassion of Christ for the broken, sick, and marginalized.
Gospel Overview
Luke’s Gospel, addressed to Theophilus—whose name fittingly means “friend of God”—was crafted with Gentile readers in mind. Luke highlights how Jesus fulfills God’s promises in Israel’s history, bringing them to completion through His ministry. Central to Luke’s account is Jerusalem, the place where Jesus completed His mission and where the church’s mission to the world would begin. Luke presents Jesus as gentle and compassionate, especially toward the needy and unfortunate, showing the Savior’s concern for women, children, outcasts, and the poor. More restrained in tone than Mark’s, Luke’s Gospel nevertheless captures the power of the Holy Spirit at work in Jesus’ ministry and in the early church. The Gospel of Luke assures believers across all nations that God’s plan of salvation is both trustworthy and for everyone, everywhere.
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