Luke

a) Background. Luke is an extremely well-educated Gentile from Antioch that he does and everything that is said about him speaks of education. He writes, by the way, in Classical Greek. Luke 1:1-4 is pure Attic Greek, demonstrating his phenomenal education. By contrast, many of the other men on the Pauline combat team are not educated at all. Education is really not for everyone anyway. But there is a place for it and there certainly is with Luke. Luke does not hesitate to advance himself also as an expert historian contending a thorough investigation and collection of data prior to his contact with Christianity. Luke had extensive contact with the early church leaders, including Paul, Timothy, Philip, Silas, Mark, Barnabas, and James. Therefore he qualifies in every way as an excellent historian.

b) Luke is the brother of Titus. We learn this from the Greek of 2 Corinthians 8:18 in which the definite article is used as a personal pronoun in front if a)delfoj which means “brother.” The definite article means “his” brother, i.e. Titus.

c) Luke has a great relationship with Paul.

1. He joined the apostolic team at Troy on the 2nd missionary journey — Acts 16:10-11.

2. He accompanied Paul to Philippi but was not involved in the persecutions of Paul and Silas recorded in Acts 16.

3. When Paul left Philippi after his deliverance from jail Luke remained behind in order to help out in starting the new church. Comparing the pronoun “we” in Acts 16:10, it becomes “they” in Acts 16:40.

4. Luke rejoined Paul on his third missionary journey when Paul came back to Philippi.

5. He was from that time appointed Paul’s executive officer and he remained with Paul until his death.

6. For example, Luke shared in Paul’s Jerusalem reversionism. Even though Paul went into reversionism Luke knew he was wrong and stuck right with him as a good executive officer — Acts 20:6-21:18.

7. He shared in the Caesarean imprisonment of two years.

8. He made the famous shipwreck voyage to Rome — Acts 27:1; 28:2.

9. He was with Paul during the first Roman imprisonment — Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24.

10. As noted in this context Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment — “Luke is alone with me.” 2 Timothy 4:11.

d) The extra-biblical legend that Luke died in Greece at the age of 84. In addition to being the medical officer for the team was the team historian and he kept the duty roster for them. His loyalty and faithfulness to Paul is emphasised in this context. It takes a truly great believer with magnificent honour and integrity to take second place to the great apostle Paul. This is perhaps one of the most outstanding things about Luke. He had greatness of his own but he never allowed his own personal greatness to not subordinate himself to the great apostle. Even though he was great in his own right his personal greatness was never in conflict with the principle of subordination of himself to the authority of the ultra-supergrace apostle. He stayed with Paul to the very end of his life and not once did he ever think of bucking Paul’s authority or going out on his own. He had no hang-ups related to playing second fiddle to Paul.