Introduction to the Luke

Luke presents perhaps the most detailed, historical and chronological account of all the Gospels (cf. Luke 1:1-4). He is not one of the original Twelve apostles, but he was a companion of Paul and a physician. He is the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. They are both written to a "Theophilus," who was likely a Roman official and a believer. They were likely written about the same time, perhaps during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, where the Book of Acts ends. And tradition places the writing of this book in Rome itself. Some have suggested that one of the purposes of Luke-Acts was as a trial-brief for Paul's upcoming court hearing.

Luke presents not merely a history of the life of Christ. He also presents an apologetic ("defense") of the Christian Gospel. His audience, unlike Matthew to the Jews, was primarily Gentile, even Roman. Thus, Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man, rejected by Israel, offered to the Gentiles. In this presentation, Jesus is seen as a universal Savior. This theme dovetails nicely with the purpose and theme of Acts, for in Acts Luke is especially concerned with Paul, the missionary to the Gentiles.

For those of you that would like to read a larger more thorough introduction to Luke, here is one from a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary: http://bible.org/seriespage/luke-introduction-outline-and-argument