Each year, Saint Luke’s feast day falls on 18 October. St. Luke is the patron saint of physicians, surgeons, artists, painters, notaries, among others. Although Luke was trained as a Greek physician, he was chosen to document important events in world history, and his great name has continued to echo throughout the centuries.
Luke travelled across distant lands, interviewed eyewitnesses and compiled what would become one of the most influential documents ever written. He undertook this work with the curiosity of an investigator and the precision of a surgeon. His attention to detail, the relentless pursuit of truth and his ability to tell stories with precision and sensitivity have given the world two of the most important books of the Bible.
Who was Saint Luke?
Luke was born in Antioch in Roman Syria between 1 and 16 AD. He was a Greek Gentile. Antioch was one of the largest and most important cities of the ancient world. At the time, it was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire, surpassed only by Rome and Alexandria. It was a true cultural melting pot, where Greek traditions blended with Eastern customs. He died in Thebes (at that time was a part of the Roman Empire), around the age of 84 years. His tomb was initially in Thebes and then transferred to Constantinople and then Padua. His relics are found in the Abbey of Santa Giustina in Padua, St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague and the Holy Church of Luke the Evangelist in Thebes, Greece.
From a very young age, Luke displayed a natural curiosity and a sharp mind for study. His parents, aware of the importance of knowledge, invested in his education from an early age. Medicine in antiquity was a noble and highly respected profession. Luke studied Medicine at the renowned Medical School of Tarsus, which incidentally was also the same city, where the Apostle Paul was born. At medical school, he was taught the importance of careful observation and the detailed documentation of symptoms, signs and treatments. These were important skills that he would later apply in his work as an evangelist.
Luke the physician
Following his training, Luke began practising medicine in various regions of the Roman Empire. This experience exposed him to diverse cultures and social realities. He thus developed a special sensitivity towards the marginalised and the suffering. It is no coincidence that in his later writings, he would pay special attention to the sick, the poor and women, groups that were often overlooked in ancient society. Luke’s medical training cultivated in him a unique investigative spirit. Greek physicians were trained not to accept superficial explanations, but to always seek the root cause of diseases.
Luke was not content with only possessing technical medical knowledge. He wanted to understand deeper questions about the meaning of life and the nature of human existence. His special sensitivity to human suffering would later be reflected in his writings, where he frequently highlights Jesus’ compassion for the sick and marginalised.
The skills of observation and precise recording were very useful for documenting the history of the life of Jesus Christ and the birth of the Christian church. He paid special attention to the healing miracles that were performed by Jesus. His accounts of such events contain more medical detail than those of the other evangelists. He also used precise medical terminology that reflected his professional knowledge.
When Luke met Paul
Luke was a disciple of St. Paul. He first met Paul in the city of Troas around the year 51 AD. This was during the second missionary journey of Paul. This encounter is subtly recorded in the book of Acts, when the term ‘we’ was used, indicating that the author Luke had joined the missionary team. When Luke met Paul, the Apostle was already a prominent figure in the emerging Church. He had been transformed from a persecutor of Christians into their greatest advocate.
Paul’s teachings had a profound impact on Luke as a doctor, who was accustomed to seeking evidence and rational explanations. As a doctor, he was also able to care for Paul’s physical health, as the Apostle frequently suffered from ailments (as mentioned in his letters). St. Paul calls him ‘the beloved physician’.
Luke the Evangelist
Luke was one of the four evangelists (a writer of one of the four gospels in the Bible). He wrote the third gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. These two books were written in Greek and together make up 27.5% of the New Testament. Luke left behind an established medical career, to become part of a movement that faced persecution and rejection.
During his missionary journeys, Luke had the opportunity to meet other Apostles and eye-witnesses of Jesus’ life. He was able to hear first-hand accounts from those who had walked with Jesus. This network of connections would prove invaluable, when he later conducted research for writing his gospel. All his knowledge and experience had prepared him to become not just a chronicler but an inspired historian, who would document some of the most significant events in human history. During his investigation, Luke travelled extensively, visiting the places where the events of Jesus’ life had occurred. He personally verified locations, spoke with local residents and cross-checked oral accounts with physical evidence. The close relationship with St. Paul allowed Luke to witness first hand, not only the hardships but also the miracles and transformations that accompanied the Apostolic Ministry. These experiences gave Luke a unique perspective on the growth of the early church, which he would later document meticulously in the Acts of the Apostles.
Luke’s Gospel
Luke begins his Gospel with a statement about the method he used. He claims to have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, consulting those who were eyewitnesses from the start. Luke’s investigative process was unique among the evangelists (that is, unlike Matthew and John, who were eyewitnesses and Mark, who primarily recorded St. Peter’s memories). Luke conducted extensive research, interviewing multiple sources. His medical training had taught him to ask precise questions and to record important details.
Luke wrote his Gospel in Greek, which was the international language of the Roman world. It was used by scholars, merchants and educated people throughout the Roman Empire. Luke used refined and elegant Greek, demonstrating his excellent education, whilst keeping the text accessible to his readers. The combination of historical precision and compelling storytelling, makes his Gospel both informative and captivating.
In Luke’s Gospel, the events are organised both chronologically and thematically, thus helping the reader better understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ life and Ministry. He includes small details that bring the stories to life, such as the emotions of those involved, the specific circumstances of events and the reactions of onlookers. These details are not merely decorative, but help convey the deeper meaning of the events he describes.
Luke and Mother Mary
Luke is the only Evangelist to provide intimate details about the Annunciation, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and the birth of Jesus. These accounts are so personal and detailed that scholars believe they could only have come from direct conversations with Mary herself. The Magnificat, Mary’s beautiful hymn of praise, is preserved only in Luke’s Gospel, suggesting that he had privileged access to her most intimate memories.
Luke and John the Baptist
Luke’s investigative work extended to the Ministry of John the Baptist as well. He provides detailed information about the birth and mission of Jesus’ forerunner, including the hymn of his father Zechariah, the Benedictus.
Documentation of Jesus’ childhood
A unique aspect of Luke’s research was his detailed document of Jesus’ childhood. He is the only Evangelist to provide information about Jesus’ early years including his presentation at the temple, his encounter with Simeon and Anna and the episode of the 12-year-old Jesus, discussing with the teachers in the temple.
Documenting the parables
Luke also gave special attention to recording Jesus’ parables. His Gospel contains some of the most well-known parables such as the Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son. These two parables, together with the rich man and Lazarus and the Pharisee and the tax collector are only found in Luke’s gospel.
Focus on marginalised persons, care for suffering
Luke documented aspects of Jesus’ life, which show his compassion for the marginalised. He records more encounters between Jesus and the poor, women, and social outcasts, than any other evangelist. In an era when women were often marginalised, Luke highlights their fundamental role, in the story of Salvation. He includes unique stories about Mary, the mother of Jesus, Elizabeth, Anna the prophetess, Mary Magdalene and several others.
Focus on miracles
When describing Jesus’ miracles, he often provides precise medical details that other evangelists do not mention. Two examples are when he described the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and the healing of the man with the ‘withered’ hand.
Beautiful hymns and songs
Luke’s Gospel is the only one that preserves some of the most beautiful hymns and songs of early Christianity. He records the Magnificat (Mary’s song), the Benedictus (Zechariah’s song), the Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Angel’s song) and the Nunc dimittis (Simeon’s song). These hymns are poetic expressions of praise and important theological declarations, that reveal the deep meaning of the events that Luke describes.
Acts of the Apostles
Luke then documented the birth and growth of the early church, in the book, Acts of the Apostles. This book picks up where the Gospel of Luke ends, with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Luke saw the history of the church as a direct extension of Jesus’ Ministry. As a meticulous historian, Luke carefully documented the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. One of Luke’s most significant contributions in Acts, is his account of the Gospel reaching Rome, the heart of the empire. He shows how Paul, even under house arrest, continued to preach and teach boldly in the imperial capital. The conclusion of Acts symbolises the fulfilment of the mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Luke the historian
Luke’s attention to geographical and historical details is remarkable. He frequently mentions specific place names, distances and topographical features, which have been confirmed by modern archaeologists. Luke not only gathered information but arranged these in order. He paid close attention to the sequence of events and their connections, helping his readers understand not just what happened but also when and why it happened.
Furthermore, Luke’s documentation was not limited to the events themselves but also included the impact these events caused in people’s lives. He records the emotional reactions of individuals to Jesus’ miracles and teachings, the life changes that took place and how different groups responded to the gospel message. His commitment to historical precision has been repeatedly confirmed by modern archaeological discoveries.
Luke the artist
Luke is considered to have been a portraitist and the first iconographer. He is credited with painting the original, of the subsequent (in 1340’s), Italo-Byzantine ‘Cambrai Madonna’, to which numerous miracles have been attributed. It is believed that the essence of the Virgin Mary was captured in Luke’s portrait of her. Thereafter contemporary painters have tried to emulate him, in their depictions of Mary.
A large 15th century panel painting by Rogier van der Weyden (a famous Netherlandish painter), is housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This shows Luke, sketching the Virgin Mary as she nurses the child Jesus. In 1435, Jan van Eyck painted the Madonna of Chancellor Rolin, which is now housed at the Musee du Louvre, Paris. In van der Weyden painting, the positioning of the main figures is reversed from that in the van Eyck painting.
Conclusions
Luke remains a central personality within the Christian faith. His life and work encompassed varied and diverse areas and he succeeded in succinctly documenting important aspects of Jesus Christ’s life and information on the beginnings of the early church.
(The writer is a clinical immunologist, allergist, and an expert in immunodeficiency, autoimmune, allergic and mast cell disorders, and immunogenetics)
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication