"Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus." (Luke 1:1-3)
Today, October 18, we celebrate the feast day of
Saint Luke (died 74), disciple of Saint Paul, writer of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, and martyr for the Church. Saint Luke is the only Gentile to have written books in the Bible and his writings have been proven to be historically accurate. In his Gospel, Luke emphasizes Christ's compassion for sinners and for all those who suffer. He also records a strong emphasis on the role women played in Christ's ministry.
Little is known about the life of Saint Luke, prior to his joining
Saint Paul in his evangelical missions. Virtually all that we know comes from the New Testament, written by his own hand in the Acts of the Apostles, or documented in the epistles of Saint Paul in which he refers to
"Luke, the beloved physician." (Colossians 4:14)
Saint Luke was most likely born both Greek and Gentile, and despite being referred to as a physician was more likely a slave. According to the early Church historian
Eusebius, Luke was born at Antioch in Syria. It was not uncommon in that time for slaves to be educated in medicine, so that the family who employed them might have a resident doctor. Legend tells us that Saint Luke was highly educated, respected as a writer, poet, and painter. He is said to have painted many portraits of Madonna and Child, although the authenticity of these paintings (still revered across Europe) has been questioned.
In regards to Saint Luke’s heritage, scholars have pointed to several key pieces of information. First, in referring to his traveling companions, Saint Paul speaks of his Jewish “friends” who are circumcised. In this group of Jewish companions, he does not include Luke in this group. Secondly, Saint Luke’s gospel shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles. It is only in this gospel that we see the parable of the Good Samaritan, that we hear Jesus praising the faith of Gentiles such as the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian, and that we read about the one grateful leper who is a Samaritan.
We first hear of Saint Luke in the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. In that chapter, he meets Saint Paul at Troas, around the year 51, and subsequently accompanies him on his evangelical mission throughout Europe. Together, they end up at Philippi,
“concluding that God had called us to preach the Gospel to them.”
6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. (Acts 16:6-12)
(Prior to Chapter 16, verse 10, the Acts of the Apostles is recounted in a straight-forward third person historical narrative. In verse 10, Saint Luke interjects the personal pronoun “we,” joining the story and accompanying Saint Paul.) Saint Luke was present at the conversion of Lydia and was recognized spirit:
“She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” (Acts 16:18)
Saint Luke’s time with Saint Paul was not always easy. For example, Luke saw Paul and Silas arrested, dragged before the Roman magistrates, charged with disturbing the city for “being Jews”, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison. Based upon their appearance, Luke and Saint
Timothy likely escaped. When Paul departed from Philippi, Luke was left behind, sending financial aid and assistance to Saint Paul in Thessalonica.
Eventually, after separate evangelical missions, Saint Paul and Saint Luke rejoined each other, traveling through Miletus, Tyre, Caesarea, and to Jerusalem. In Rome, when Saint Paul was imprisoned, Saint Luke remained with him.
"Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers" (Philemon 24), Saint Paul writes. And after everyone else deserts him in his final imprisonment and sufferings, it is Luke who remains with Paul to the end:
"Only Luke is with me." (2 Timothy 4:11)
The reports of Saint Luke's life after Paul's death are conflicting. Some say he preached in Gaul before settling in Greece to write his Gospel. While the details of his death are unknown, the Church bestows upon him the martyr’s crown for the suffering he endured while preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The writings of Saint Luke
The gospel of Saint Luke, following from his gentle character, focuses on the poor and oppressed, encouraging tenderness and compassion for the less fortunate. This includes the stories of Lazarus and the Rich Man who ignored him, as well as the parable of the Good Samaritan. Similarly, it is only in the gospel of Luke that the beatitude "Blessed are the poor" rather than "Blessed are the poor in spirit" is referenced.
Unlike most Jewish Gospel writings, women have an important place in Luke's gospel. Luke writes about the women who accompanied Jesus, such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and Martha and Mary and
"many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples." (Luke, 8:1).
Luke also appears especially devoted to Our Blessed Mother through his writings. He wrote about the birth of Christ from Mary's point of view, and she remains especially important throughout Luke's gospel. It is, for example, only in the gospel of Luke, that the story of Mary's Annunciation, her visit to Elizabeth, the Magnificat, the Presentation at the Temple, and Jesus' remaining in Jerusalem are told. In Luke's gospel, we learn the words spoken by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary at the Annunciation, "Hail Mary, full of grace" and Elizabeth's words to Mary, "Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus."
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I love the saints. It is obvious you do also. Your blog is by far the best that I have discovered written about them. You present detail that are new to me in many cases and believe me when I say I know a lot about them. Thank you so much. God bless you for your beautiful work. karen