MY FRIEND THEOPHILUS
LUKE 1:1-4
Luke (Acts 16:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Phile. 24)
• Greek (only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament; Greek terms–“Calvary” not “Golgotha;” home–Antioch of Syria [Eusebius, H. E. iii. 4])
• Physician (Col. 4:14)–medical terms
• Historian (Lk. 1:3)
• Missionary (“we” sections in Acts; Acts 16:10–Troas to Philippi; Acts 20:5–Journey to Jerusalem; Acts 27:1–Caesarea to Rome; Col. 4:14; Phile. 24–traveled with Paul to Rome)
Luke-Acts
• Largest work in the New Testament
• One-work in two parts
Acts began where Luke’s Gospel ended–the ascension. The ascension connected Jesus’ work on the cross to His work on the throne.
Frank
Stagg wrote, “The first ‘treatise’ was concerned with ‘all that Jesus began both
to do and to teach until he was received up’ (Acts 1:1-2). The second book shows
what the risen Christ continued to do through the Holy Spirit and through the
church.”
I. Luke had the facts
A. Intention (reasons for writing)
B. Information
1. Witnesses (historical account)
2. Writers (kerygma–Acts 2:22-36, 10:36-43)
C. Investigation (research methods, researcher’s qualifications)
Marvin
R. Vincent said, “Luke is the best writer of Greek among the evangelists.”
Vincent noted, “He uses over
seven hundred words which occur nowhere else in the New Testament.”
After
historical research into the accuracy of Luke, archaeologist Sir William Ramsey
(Luke the Physician), reversed an earlier prejudice and said, “Luke is a
historian of the first rank. . . .” Ramsey concluded Luke to be “unsurpassed in
respect of its trustworthiness.”
Luke accurately recorded the
proper titles of notable persons and Roman officials.
D. Interpretation (result of the findings)
II. Luke had a focus
Frank
Stagg wrote, “All four Gospels have the same basic purpose: to present Jesus as
Christ the Savior and Lord. But each Gospel has its own special
interest.”
• Angels (more than 20 references, Lk. 1:11-26, 2:9-13, 22:43)
• Childhood (birth of John the Baptist; birth of Christ and the presentation in the temple, the trip to the temple)
• Christianity (Luke showed Christians to be innocent of the charges brought against them by the Romans.)
• Disciples
(A. B. Bruce said, “The weak faith of the disciples is a very mildly
characterized.” To Peter, “Get thee behind me” is not in this Gospel; in
Gethsemane the disciples “slept for sorrow”)
• Gentiles (genealogy of Christ traced to Adam instead of Abraham; Simeon called Jesus a light to the Gentiles, Lk. 2:32 [Is. 49:6]; illustration of the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian, Lk. 4:25-27; praise of the Roman centurion, Lk. 7:9)
• History. Caesar–Lk. 2:1 (Octavian, 63 B.C.-A.D. 14, the grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, became emperor in 30 B.C. He took the title of Divine Caesar and Augustus– “exalted one”); Cyrenius–Lk. 2:2 (Luke [Acts 5:37] and Josephus recorded a “second” census [Ant. XVIII, xviii, i, 1].); Tiberius–Lk. 3:1; Mt. 22:20; Jn. 19:12 (A.D. 14-37, Augustus’ adopted son–suspicious and cruel); Antipas ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39. (Mk. 6:17–rebuked by John; Lk. 13:32–called “fox” by Jesus; Lk. 23:7–helped Pilate try Jesus); Pilate–Lk. 3:1, 13:1; Acts 4:27, 13:28 (A.D. 26-36, Josephus recorded Pilate’s attempts to abolish Jewish laws [Ant. XVIII, iii, 1], his thoughts to take Temple money for an aqueduct [Ant. XVIII, iii, 2], and his massacre of Samaritans [Ant. XVIII, lv, 1, 1]. Eusebius reported Pilate’s death by suicide.)
• Holy Spirit (John, Lk. 1:15; Mary, Lk. 1:35; Zechariah, Lk. 1:67; Simeon, Lk. 2:25; temptation, Lk. 4:14; ascension, Lk. 24:49)
• Jerusalem (goal–Lk. 9:51-18:14, wept over the city)
• Medicine
(Lk. 16:20–ulcerated; Vincent said, “His language, both in the Gospel and in
the Acts, indicates a familiarity with the terms used by the Greek medical
schools, and furnishes an incidental confirmation of the common authorship of
the two books.”
)
• Outcasts (parable of the Good Samaritan, would not call down fire on the Samaritans, thankful leper–a Samaritan)
• Parables (16 parables unique to Luke)
• Poor (shepherds at Bethlehem; Mary’s offering of purification, Lk. 2:24; poor hear the gospel, Lk. 7:22; invitation to supper, Lk. 14:21; poor Lazarus)
• Prayer (baptism; before the call of the twelve; at the transfiguration; for Peter before denial; on the cross for enemies; parable of the Friend at Midnight and the Unjust Judge)
• Salvation. Stagg said, “It is
about God’s concern for all people. . . .”
• Sinners (woman at the home of Simon the Pharisee, Lk. 7:36-50; parable of the Publican and Pharisee; Zaachaeus the tax-collector, Lk. 19:1-10; thief on the cross, Lk. 23:43)
• Song (the song of Zacharias; the song of Mary; the song of Simeon; the song of the angels)
• Women (Elizabeth–Mary–Anna; Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Susanna, Mary and Martha; daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound; the widow of Nain; women weeping on the road to Calvary; word woman occurs forty-three times)
III. Luke had a friend
Luke
addressed both volumes to the same man. Theophilus might have been a Roman
charged to investigate and seriously examine Christianity.
William
Barclay suggested, “Luke wrote it to tell an earnest inquirer more about Jesus.
. . .”
My Friend (Source Unknown)
You lived next door to me for years
We shared our dreams, our joys, and tears.
A friend to me you were indeed...
A friend who helped me when in need.
My faith in you was strong and sure
We had such trust as should endure.
No spats between us ever rose;
Our friends were like...and so our foes.
What sadness then, my friend, to find
That after all you weren't so kind.
The day my life on earth did end
I found you weren't a faithful friend.
For all those years we spent on earth
You never talked of second birth.
You never spoke of my lost soul
And of the Messiah Who'd make me whole.
I plead today from Hell's cruel fire
And tell you now my last desire.
You cannot do a thing for me...
No words today my bonds will free.
But do not err, my friend, again;
Do all you can for souls of men.
Plead with them now quite earnestly,
Lest they be cast in Hell with me.