Luke the Evangelist
Physician, evangelist, and author of Luke–Acts.
Luke the Evangelist is one of the Four Evangelists, the traditionally ascribed authors of the canonical gospels. The Early Church Fathers attributed to him authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, a two-volume work that accounts for 27.5% of the New Testament, the largest contribution by a single author. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and other major denominations, and is considered a patron saint of artists, physicians, bachelors, notaries, butchers, brewers, and others.
- field
- Evangelist, physician, historian
- known_for
- Authorship of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles
- nationality
- Uncertain; possibly a Greek from Antioch or a Hellenic Jew
- feast_day
- 18 October
- patronage
- Artists, physicians, bachelors, notaries, butchers, brewers
Lore & Background
Luke is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, with the Epistle to the Colossians referring to him as a physician. He is thought to have been both a physician and a disciple of Paul. His earliest mention is in the Epistle to Philemon 1:24, and he is also mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:11. Epiphanius states that Luke was one of the Seventy Apostles, and John Chrysostom indicates that the 'brother' mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:18 is either Luke or Barnabas. The use of 'we' in Acts of the Apostles suggests that Luke was a traveling companion of Paul, meeting him in Troas, crossing to Macedonia, staying in Philippi, and later accompanying Paul on his journey to Italy and Rome.
Reader's Guide
Luke the Evangelist holds a central place in Christian tradition as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, together forming a continuous narrative that constitutes over a quarter of the New Testament. His works are understood in the tradition of Greek historiography, with Luke 1:1–4 identifying the work as historical investigation. Scholarly opinion on his authorship is roughly evenly divided near the end of the 20th century, with some arguing that Acts represents a forgery, while others, like archaeologist William Mitchell Ramsay, regard Luke as a historian of the first rank. His writings are valued for their detailed descriptions of towns, cities, and official titles, though modern historians question his competence due to supernatural elements. Luke's legacy as a saint and patron of various professions, including artists and physicians, reflects his enduring influence in Christian devotion and culture.
Did You Know?
- Luke is traditionally believed to have been martyred by hanging from an olive tree, though some dispute this.
- The earliest manuscript of the Gospel of Luke, Papyrus 75, dated c. AD 200, ascribes the work to Luke.
- He is the only New Testament writer who may clearly be identified as not being Jewish, according to some commentators.
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