Who Was Luke in the Bible? Doctor, Historian, and Companion of Paul

Luke was a doctor and a companion of the apostle Paul, and according to early church tradition he wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Paul calls him "our dear friend Luke, the doctor" (Colossians 4:14). His two books together make up more of the New Testament than the writings of any other single author.

Luke's name appears only three times in the Bible, all in Paul's letters. Most of what we know about him comes from those verses and from the sections of Acts where the author writes "we," placing himself in the story.

Quick Facts About Luke

Name meaning	Loukas in Greek. The meaning is uncertain; it is often linked to the Latin word for "light."
Testament	New Testament
Key books	Luke, Acts, Colossians 4, 2 Timothy 4, Philemon
Time period	First century AD; traveled with Paul from about AD 50 to the early 60s
Known for	Writing the Gospel of Luke and Acts; serving as a doctor; staying with Paul during his imprisonment

What the Bible Says About Luke by Name

Paul mentions Luke in three letters, each written while Paul was in prison.

• Colossians 4:14. Paul sends greetings from Luke, calling him a dear friend and a doctor. This is the only verse that tells us Luke's profession.
• Philemon 24. Paul lists Luke among his fellow workers, along with Mark, Aristarchus and Demas.
• 2 Timothy 4:11. Near the end of his life, Paul writes that Luke is the only one still with him, and he asks Timothy to bring Mark.

In the same passage in Colossians, Paul names Aristarchus, Mark and Justus as the only Jewish believers among his fellow workers (Colossians 4:10-11), and then lists Luke separately (Colossians 4:14). Many scholars take this to mean Luke was a Gentile. The text does not state it directly, but if correct, Luke would be the only Gentile author of a New Testament book.

Who Was Luke in the Bible? The Author of Luke and Acts

Neither the Gospel of Luke nor Acts names its author. Both are addressed to the same man, Theophilus, and Acts refers back to the earlier book about what Jesus did and taught (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). This shows the two books come from the same writer.

Early church writers identified that writer as Luke. Irenaeus, writing around AD 180, says Luke, the companion of Paul, recorded the gospel Paul preached. The Muratorian fragment, an early list of New Testament books, also names Luke as the author of the third Gospel and of Acts. No other author was proposed in the early church.

The text fits this tradition. The author of Acts traveled with Paul (Acts 16:10), and Luke is one of the few companions Paul names who was with him in Rome (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11).

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Luke's Life and Travels

Joining Paul at Troas

In Acts 16, Paul receives a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for help (Acts 16:9). In the next verse, the narration shifts from "they" to "we" (Acts 16:10). From this point, the author writes as a member of the group. The group sails from Troas to Philippi, where Lydia believes and is baptized (Acts 16:11-15).

Staying in Philippi

The "we" narration stops at Acts 16:17, just before Paul and Silas are arrested in Philippi (Acts 16:19). It resumes several years later, again at Philippi, when Paul passes back through on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:5-6). This suggests Luke may have stayed in Philippi during those years, although the text does not say so directly.

The journey to Jerusalem

Luke traveled with Paul from Philippi to Jerusalem (Acts 20:5-21:18). On the way, he records Paul's farewell to the elders of Ephesus at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38) and the prophet Agabus warning Paul of arrest (Acts 21:10-11). In Jerusalem, Paul was seized at the temple and later held in custody at Caesarea for two years (Acts 21:30-33; Acts 24:27).

The voyage to Rome

The "we" narration returns when Paul sails for Rome as a prisoner (Acts 27:1). Luke gives a detailed account of the storm, the shipwreck on Malta, and the arrival in Rome (Acts 27:13-44; Acts 28:1-16). The account includes specific details of sailing, ports and weather.

With Paul in prison

Acts ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome for two years, preaching to those who visited him (Acts 28:30-31). Paul's letters from prison show Luke was with him (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24). In Paul's final letter, Luke is the only companion still with him (2 Timothy 4:11).

The Bible does not record Luke's death. Later traditions about where and how he died vary and cannot be confirmed.

Luke as a Historian

Luke opens his Gospel by explaining his method. He notes that many had already written accounts based on what eyewitnesses handed down (Luke 1:1-2). He then writes:

"With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." (Luke 1:3-4)

Luke ties events to known rulers and dates. He dates the birth of Jesus to a census under Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-2) and the start of John the Baptist's ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, naming Pilate, Herod, and other officials (Luke 3:1-2). In Acts, he names local officials with their correct titles, such as the proconsul Gallio in Corinth (Acts 18:12).

What Only Luke's Gospel Records

Much of Luke's Gospel appears in no other Gospel. This material includes:

• The births of John the Baptist and Jesus, including the angel's visits to Zechariah and Mary (Luke 1:5-38).
• Mary's song of praise (Luke 1:46-55).
• The shepherds and the angels at Jesus' birth (Luke 2:8-20).
• Jesus in the temple at age twelve (Luke 2:41-52).
• The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
• The parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32).
• Zacchaeus the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10).
• The criminal on the cross who asks Jesus to remember him (Luke 23:39-43).
• The two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).

Luke's Gospel gives attention to women, the poor, Samaritans and Gentiles. For example, he records women who supported Jesus' ministry from their own means (Luke 8:1-3) and the healing of a Samaritan leper who returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19).

Lessons From Luke's Life

• Careful work in service of the truth. Luke investigated his sources and wrote an orderly account so his reader could be certain of what he had been taught (Luke 1:3-4).
• Faithfulness in hard times. When others had left Paul, Luke remained with him (2 Timothy 4:10-11).
• Serving without seeking attention. Luke wrote two long books without naming himself in either one.
• The gospel is for all nations. Luke's books trace the message of Jesus from Jerusalem to Rome, as Jesus said it would spread (Acts 1:8; Acts 28:30-31).

Where Luke Appears in the Bible

• By name: Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11.
• As author (by tradition): the Gospel of Luke (24 chapters) and Acts (28 chapters).
• In the "we" passages of Acts: Acts 16:10-17; Acts 20:5-21:18; Acts 27:1-28:16.

For the other key figures in Luke's story, see who was Paul in the Bible, who was Mark in the Bible, and who was Barnabas in the Bible. Luke's Gospel is also the longest New Testament book by word count, as covered in what is the longest book in the Bible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Luke in the Bible?

Luke was a doctor and a traveling companion of the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14). Early church tradition identifies him as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.

Was Luke one of the twelve apostles?

No. Luke was not one of the twelve apostles and does not claim to have been an eyewitness of Jesus' ministry. He says he carefully investigated the accounts handed down by eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1-3).

Was Luke a Gentile?

The Bible does not state it directly. In Colossians 4:10-14, Paul lists his Jewish co-workers separately from Luke, which many scholars take to mean Luke was a Gentile.

How do we know Luke was a doctor?

Paul calls Luke a dear friend and a doctor in Colossians 4:14. This is the only verse in the Bible that states his profession.

Who was Theophilus?

Theophilus was the man to whom Luke addressed both his Gospel and Acts (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). Luke addresses him with a title of respect often used for officials, but the Bible gives no other details about him.