Bible Figure
Luke
Luke was a coworker of Paul traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Paul calls him the beloved physician, and the 'we' sections of Acts have long been understood as reflecting the presence of the author with Paul during portions of his travels.
Biography
Paul's letters name Luke among his coworkers. Colossians calls him 'the beloved physician,' Philemon includes him among Paul's fellow workers, and 2 Timothy says that Luke alone remained with Paul at that point. The Gospel of Luke and Acts form a two-volume work addressed to Theophilus and share language, themes, and literary continuity. The author explains that he investigated earlier testimony carefully and intended to provide an orderly account. In Acts, several travel narratives shift into the first-person plural, traditionally understood to indicate the author's participation in those journeys, including portions of the Macedonian mission, the journey to Jerusalem, and the voyage to Rome. Neither volume names Luke within its text, so the identification rests on strong early Christian tradition combined with the Pauline references and internal features.
Biblical Significance
Luke's importance lies both in his service alongside Paul and in the two New Testament books traditionally associated with him. Luke-Acts provides the most extensive continuous narrative from the births surrounding Jesus through the Gospel's expansion to Rome, with particular attention to the Holy Spirit, prayer, outsiders, women, the poor, and God's saving plan.