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Luke

Luke the evangelist, was a Gentile. The date and circumstances of his conversion are unknown. Through the inspiration of God, Luke wrote the Biblical book known as The Gospel According to Luke. According to his own statement (Luke 1:2), he was not an “eye-witness and minister of the word from the beginning,” as were Matthew, Mark, Peter, John, James, and the others. Luke also wrote the Acts of the Aposles.

It is probable that he was a physician in Troas, and was there converted by Paul, to whom he attached himself. He accompanied him to Philippi, but did not there share his imprisonment, nor did he accompany him further after his release in his missionary journey at this time (Acts 17:1).

There are many passages in Paul's epistles, as well as in the writings of Luke, which show the extent and accuracy of his medical knowledge.

On Paul’s third visit to Philippi (20:5-6) we again meet with Luke, who probably had spent all the intervening time in that city, a period of seven or eight years. From this time Luke was Paul’s constant companion during his journey to Jerusalem (20:6-21:18).

He again disappears from view during Paul’s imprisonment at Jerusalem and Caesarea, and only reappears when Paul sets out for Rome (27:1), whither he accompanies him (28:2, 12-16), and where he remains with him till the close of his first imprisonment (Philemon 1:24; Col. 4:14).

In Paul’s letter to the Colossian church, he includes greetings to them from Luke,

“Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas.” —Colossians 4:14 NASB

In his letter to Philemon, Paul mentions Luke as his fellow worker.

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.” —Philemon 23-24 NASB

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he says,

“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me.” —2 Timothy 4:9-11a NASB

That is the last notice of the “beloved physician” in Scripture.

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Article Version: January 26, 2018