Luke
Who was Luke? Paul's companion, the beloved physician. Tradition credits him with Luke and Acts, says he came from Antioch and died aged 84.
- Manner of death
- Of old age in Boeotia, by tradition (Tradition: 2 Timothy 4:11)
- Age at death
- Aged 84, by tradition (Tradition)
- Birthplace
- Antioch (Antakya), by tradition (Tradition: Colossians 4:14)
Luke is the believer whom Paul's letters call 'the beloved physician', a companion on Paul's journeys and during his imprisonment (Colossians 4:14). In his last letter Paul writes, 'Only Luke is with me' (2 Timothy 4:11). Early church tradition credits him with the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, both addressed to a man named Theophilus. In Acts, the narrator begins to say 'we' after Troas, suggesting the author travelled with Paul (Acts 16:10). According to the tradition Eusebius records, Luke came from Antioch, and the greetings list in Colossians 4 suggests he was a Gentile believer.
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Related topics
Related places
- Pisidian Antioch
- Iconium
- Lystra
- Corinth
- Thessalonica
- Rome
- Laodicea
- Colossae
- Hierapolis
- Miletus
- Troas
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Fear and Anxiety
- Bible Verses About Forgiveness
- Bible Verses About Thankfulness
- Bible Verses About Wisdom
- Bible Verses About Creation
- Bible Verses About Courage
- Bible Verses About Family
- Bible Verses About Marriage
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Anger
- Bible Verses About Faithfulness
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Strength
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About Work and Labor
- Bible Verses About Honesty
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Related guides
- The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Which are the four Gospels, how do they differ and why are there four? A short, neutral guide introducing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and explaining the Synoptic Gospels.
- Who Wrote the Bible? When Was It Written?
Who wrote the Bible, when and in which languages was it written? A short, neutral guide to the Bible's many authors, the periods in which it was written and its original languages.
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People in the Bible
How did Luke die?
The oldest church tradition says Luke was not martyred but died at an advanced age in Boeotia, Greece, full of the Holy Spirit. This comes from an ancient prologue written for Luke's Gospel. Some later accounts say he died a martyr, but they are late and do not agree with one another. The Bible does not describe his death; the last we see of him is at Paul's side (2 Timothy 4:11).
How old was Luke when he died?
According to church tradition, Luke died at the age of 84. The number is not in the Bible; it comes from an early prologue written for Luke's Gospel. The same prologue says he never married, had no children, and spent his life serving the Lord. Since the prologue's date is debated, the age should be read as tradition rather than established fact.
Where was Luke from?
Early church tradition holds that Luke came from Antioch, today Antakya, the centre of Hatay province. In the 4th century the church historian Eusebius wrote that Luke was an Antiochene by birth and a physician by profession, and the ancient prologue to Luke's Gospel likewise calls him a man of Antioch in Syria. The Bible does not name his birthplace, though Paul calls him the beloved physician (Colossians 4:14).
When was Luke's Gospel written?
The exact date is unknown. Luke's Gospel is the first volume, written before Acts (Acts 1:1). Most scholars date it to roughly AD 70–90, while some propose the early 60s, since Acts ends with Paul still under arrest in Rome.
Was Luke one of Jesus' twelve apostles?
No. Luke was not one of the Twelve who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. In the opening of his Gospel he says he carefully investigated everything handed down by those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning (Luke 1:2–3). He was a second-generation believer who worked alongside Paul.