Luke (Person) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Accepting the author of Luke-Acts as Luke the companion of Paul, much can be learned about him from this two-volume work. The preface to the Gospel indicates that Luke was not an eyewitness or immediate disciple of the Lord. Luke states that he had carried out extensive research and had written an orderly account about Jesus.

Luke’s writings have some features not found in the other Gospels. The extraordinary feature of Luke’s work is the inclusion of the book of Acts as a sequel to the Gospel. The two books together—Luke and Acts—show the actual fulfilling of the prophecies of Isaiah in the proclamation of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This inclusion of the Gentiles is often referred to as Luke’s universalism or concern for all humanity (Luke 2:14; 24:47). The Gospel of Luke displays a keen interest in individuals, social outcasts, women, children, and social relationships, especially situations involving poverty or wealth. This Gospel has a special stress on prayer and the Holy Spirit, which results in a striking note of joyfulness and praise. These features tell us something about Luke as a person and his understanding of Christianity.

Show passage in OET: LUK 2:14

OET-RV LUK 2:14

14 “Let all honour be given to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all people along with good will.”

OET-LV LUK 2:14

14 Glory to_god in the_highest, and peace on earth among humans with _good _pleasure.

Show passage in OET: LUK 24:47

OET-RV LUK 24:47

47 and that his name will be proclaimed as the authority to forgive the sins of the people when they repent—people from every country beginning here in Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

OET-LV LUK 24:47

47 and the name of _him to _be _proclaimed in repentance for forgiveness of _sins to all the nations, having _begun from Hierousalaʸm/(Yərūshālayim).

Jump to OET LUK 2:14 section.

Jump to OET LUK 24:47 section.

If Luke is accepted as the companion of Paul, then the “we” passages of Acts disclose that Luke was in Philippi (possibly his hometown) when he first joined Paul (Acts 16:10-17). Then he later rejoined Paul when the latter returned to Philippi (20:5-15). Luke then journeyed with Paul on his way to Jerusalem and stayed with Philip at Caesarea (21:1-18). Then, after Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Caesarea, Luke sailed with him to Rome (27:1–28:16 OET ACT 27:1–44 · OET ACT 28:1–16).

Show passage in OET: ACT 16:10–17

OET-RV ACT 16:10

10 So as a result of the vision, we decided to go straight to Makedonia, concluding that God had called us to share the good message with them.

OET-RV ACT 16:11

11 From Troias we sailed directly to Samothrakai, and then on to Neapolis the following day.

OET-RV ACT 16:12

12 From there we continued on to Filippou (Philippi) which is a Romaios colony and the capital city of the Makedonia district where we stayed for several days.

OET-RV ACT 16:13

13 On the Rest Days, we went down to the river outside the city gate where we thought people might be praying, and we spoke to the women who had met there.

OET-RV ACT 16:14

14 One of them was Ludia from Thuateira who was a seller of purple goods and although she already worshipped God, the master opened her mind and she readily accepted what Paulos was saying.

OET-RV ACT 16:15

15 So then Ludia and her household were all ceremonially immersed, and then she requested, “If you all consider me to be faithful to the master, come and stay at my place.” So she persuaded us.

OET-RV ACT 16:16

16 One time as we were walking to the prayer meeting, we met a female slave who was possessed by a spirit that enabled her to tell fortunes, and thanks to that, to earn a lot of money for her masters.

OET-RV ACT 16:17

17 She walked along behind us and shouted out, “These men are slaves of the highest god and they will be telling you all how to be saved.”

OET-LV ACT 16:10

10 And when he _saw the vision, immediately we _sought to _come _out to Makedonia, concluding that the god has _called _to us to _evangelize them.

OET-LV ACT 16:11

11 therefore having _been _launched from Trōias, we _ran _straight to Samothrakaʸ, and on _the_ following _day to New City,

OET-LV ACT 16:12

12 and _from _there to Filippou, which is the_leading city of _the district of _Makedonia, a_colony.
And we _were staying in this the city some days.

OET-LV ACT 16:13

13 And on _the day of _the days _of _rest, we _came _out outside the gate by a_river, where we _were _thinking prayer to _be, and having _sat _down we _were _speaking to _the women having _come _together.

OET-LV ACT 16:14

14 And a_certain woman by_the_name Ludia, a_seller _of _purple of_the_city of _Thuateira, worshipping the god was _hearing, of _whom the master opened _up her heart, to _be _taking _heed to _the things being _spoken by the Paulos.

OET-LV ACT 16:15

15 And when she _was _immersed and the house of _her, she _implored saying:
If you _all _have _judged me to _be faithful to _the master, having _come _in into the house of _me, be _remaining.
And she _urged us.

OET-LV ACT 16:16

16 And it _became, of _us going to the prayer place, a_ certain _servant _girl having a_ python _spirit, to _meet with _us, who fortune-telling was _bringing _about much business for _the masters of _her.

OET-LV ACT 16:17

17 This woman following the after _Paulos and was _crying _out to _us saying:
These the men are slaves of_ The the highest _god, who are _proclaiming to _you _all the_way of _salvation.

Show passage in OET: ACT 20:5–15

OET-RV ACT 20:5

5 They went ahead and waited for us at Troias.

OET-RV ACT 20:6

6 So we sailed out from Filippou (Philippi) after the Flat Bread Celebration. We arrived and meet the others there at Troias after a five-day trip, and then stayed on there for seven days.

OET-RV ACT 20:7

7 On the Sunday we had gathered together to break bread together and Paulos was discussing many things with them. As he was scheduled to leave the next day, the meeting went on towards midnight

OET-RV ACT 20:8

8 and there were many lamps in the upper room where we had all gathered.

OET-RV ACT 20:9

9 Now there was a young man named Eutukos who was sitting on the window sill, and as Paulos went on, he fell asleep and toppled down from the third storey. The ones who reached him first thought he was dead,

OET-RV ACT 20:10

10 but Paulos had come downstairs and bent over Eutukos and held him in his arms and said to the crowd, “Don’t worry, he’s still alive.”

OET-RV ACT 20:11

11 Then Paulos went back up and broke the bread with the others, eating a little and continuing to talk with them until leaving at daybreak.

OET-RV ACT 20:12

12 The locals took the young man home and were very relieved that he was alive.

OET-RV ACT 20:13

13 We went ahead to the ship and departed for Assos where it had been arranged that we’d pick up Paulos because he wanted to walk there.

OET-RV ACT 20:14

14 So when we met him at Assos, he boarded the ship and we all sailed on to Mitulainai.

OET-RV ACT 20:15

15 After we left Mitulainai, we were out from Kios the next day, in Samos the day after that, and then the following day we arrived at Milaitos.

OET-LV ACT 20:5

5 And these having _approached were _remaining with _us in Trōias.

OET-LV ACT 20:6

6 And we sailed _away from Filippou after the days of_ the _non-fermented bread, and until five days came to them at the Trōias, where we _stayed seven days.

OET-LV ACT 20:7

7 And on the first day of _the week, us having _been _gathered _together to _break bread, the Paulos was _discussing with _them, going to _be _departing on _the day of _next, and was _prolonging the speech until midnight.

OET-LV ACT 20:8

8 And there _were many lamps in the upper _room, where we _were having _been _gathered _together.

OET-LV ACT 20:9

9 And a_certain young _man by_the_name Eutuⱪos sitting by the window, being _overcome by_ deep _sleep, the as_ Paulos _discussing on more, having _been _overcome by the sleep, he _fell down from the third _story, and was _taken _up dead.

OET-LV ACT 20:10

10 But having _come _down, the Paulos fell _on on _him and having _embraced him said:
Be_ not _being _distressed, because/for the life of _him is in him.

OET-LV ACT 20:11

11 And having _gone _up, and having _broke the bread and having _tasted it, and for having_ much _conversed until daybreak, thus he _came _out.

OET-LV ACT 20:12

12 And they _brought the boy living, and were _comforted not moderately.

OET-LV ACT 20:13

13 But we, having _approached to the ship, were _launched to the Assos, from _there going to _be _taking _up the Paulos, because/for thus having _been _directed, he_ himself _was going to _be _going _on _foot.

OET-LV ACT 20:14

14 And when he _was _encountering with _us in the Assos, having _taken_ him _up, we _came to Mitulaʸnaʸ.

OET-LV ACT 20:15

15 And _from _there having _sailed _away, on _the_ following _day we _arrived opposite Ⱪios, and on _the next day we _arrived in Samos, and on _the_ following _day we _came to Milaʸtos.

Jump to OET ACT 16:10–17 section.

Jump to OET ACT 20:5–15 section.

Further references to Luke in the epistles of Paul (Col 4:14; 2 Tm 4:11; Phlm 1:24) give some valuable information about Luke. Colossians 4:11 and 14 seem to indicate that Luke was a Gentile and a physician. The latter is supported, but not proved, by the interest shown by Luke in medical matters, as in Luke 4:38, 5:12, and 8:43. It is also interesting that early tradition adds that Luke was a physician of Antioch who wrote his Gospel in Achaia and died at the age of 84.