• Doctor Luke: Luke was a physician, a Syrian living in Antioch. He was also a companion of Paul, who wrote of him in his letter to the Colossians as “Luke, the most dear physician” (4:14) and in his letter to Philemon as a “fellow laborer” (1:24). Paul also explained to Timothy that Paul was with him in Rome (2 Timothy 4:11). Because Luke’s gospel account lacks the developed theology found in Paul’s letters, it is believed that Luke was a companion of Paul early in Paul’s career.
• Eyewitness: Luke was a witness of some of the events recorded in his writings, particularly in Acts of the Apostles, of which he is also the author. This is indicated by the usage of “we” to describe participants in the action.

• Mastery of Greek:  Vocabulary in Luke’s gospel account includes 2,000 unique words. Luke’s gospel account is the most elaborate of the three synoptics.
• Original Content: Luke’s account contains the most unique material.
  • 6 miracles appear only in Luke.
  • 18 parables are unique to Luke.
  • 261 words that appear in Luke appear only there.
• Improved: Luke improved the Greek when telling the same story as Matthew and Mark.  Mark would write “and then” or “at once,” Luke says something like “then after three days.”  Mark and Matthew declare what will happen, but Luke does that AND reassures the community, gives it strength.
• Medical terms and insights: Only Luke described Jesus’ sweating blood and the grief-inspired sleep of the apostles in the Garden.
• Holy Spirit:  Nobody in Luke’s gospel speaks without being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Even Jesus speaks when “filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Luke is the “charismatic” gospel.
• Detachment: The theme of detachment is very prevalent in Luke’s gospel.  Only Luke recounts Jesus telling the parable of the rich fool, prefaced with the warning that “one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:13-21).  Luke also wrote of detachment in 12:13-34, 16:9-14, 21:3-4, and 18:24.

• Temple: Preferred scene for Jesus’ activity is the Temple, where animals are sacrificed.
• Docile: Jesus is portrayed as in less of a hurry.  There is more description of the scene than in Matthew and Mark, more focus on the emotions of the people involved. Jesus is portrayed as kinder and as gentler than he is by Mark.
• Self-Sacrifice: Luke portrays Jesus as having great compassion for widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.  Like the sacrificial ox, he offers his life for the good of these people.  Luke tells of the Magnificat, where it is foretold that Jesus will “lift up the lowly” (1:52).  When Luke describes Jesus preaching at Nazareth, he describes him as quoting Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor…” (Luke 4:18)

• Audience: Luke’s gospel account was written to Theophilus, a friend of Luke.  Some hypothesize that Theophilus was Luke’s patron or the apostle John.  The gospel account, however, does have a wider audience: all who need strengthening of their faith.
• Where: Probably written in Rome, Achaia, or Philippi.  The exact location is not known.
• When: Written about 60-67 A.D.
• Acts: Luke also wrote Acts of the Apostles.  This is evident because the similarity of style between the two accounts.
• Key Topics: Key topics in Luke’s gospel account include Prayer (2:21, 5:16, 6:12), Jesus the Lord (1:28-35), the Holy Spirit (4:1-18), the Joy of encountering Jesus, and evangelism.

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