The Notable Disciple Luke (Lucas)

Brian Kuehmichel
December 29, 2014





New Testament (Greek) for "Luke"
   Strongs #: G3065   Hb/Gk Word: Loukas
   Meaning: light-giving
   Pronunciation: lu-ka's   English Equivalent: Luke, Lucas


New Testament (Greek) for "Lucius"
   Strongs #: G3066   Hb/Gk Word: Loukios
   Meaning: light, bright, white    Pronunciation: lu'-ke-os   English Equivalent: Lucius


Luke, Lucas, Lucius?

The Disciples of Jesus Christ were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

Parent(s):  — not given —    Home area:  Cyprus

Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus.

Nickname:  Barnabas

Ministry Partner:  Apostle Paul

Act 16:8-13; 2Tim 4:11; etc. (see texts below, see Notes)

Death:  — not given —


New Testament verses:

Luke, Lucas:

Luke 1:1-3 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.

Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

Act 16:8-13 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Act 16:14-18 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

See: Act 16:19-40

Act 20:5-6 These going before tarried for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

Act 20:13-15 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot. 14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.

Act 21:1-18 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. 6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. 7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

Act 27:1-5, 7 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. 2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. 4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. ... 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;

Act 27:15-20 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. 16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

Act 27:26-27, 29 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; ... 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

Act 27:37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

Act 28:10-14, 16 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary. 11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. 12 And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. 13 And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli: 14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. ... 16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Philemon 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.


Notes:

In Acts ch 16—28 the "we" and "us" includes the author—namely Luke. After the journey recorded in Act 16:8-13 Luke apparently stayed behind to labor in this area for a while. (Act 16:14-18) It is possible that Luke is included in this event: Acts 19:31 "And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre." Luke includes himself again in Act 20:5-6 using the phrases 'us' and 'we.'

Luke is part of the group of disciples going along on Paul's journey to Jerusalem starting in Acts 20:5 and ending at 21:18. Together they were taking the journey to the church at Jerusalem where Paul was imprisoned as stated in Acts 24:27 "But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound."

During this period Luke stays with or relatively near Paul through his incarceration at Jerusalem starting in Acts 21:21, at Felix the governor in Caesarea, with Porcius Festus, before king Agrippa and Bernice and the various trials. During the period of Acts 21:19 through 26:32 Luke has access to the numerous people who had been eye witnesses of the life, character, miracles, ministry and teachings of the Lord Jesus including his sufferings, trial, crucifixtion, resurrection and ascension. These two years gave Luke plenty of time to gather information to write both the Gospel of Luke and the early part of the Book of Acts.

Luke 1:1-3 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Then Luke attends Paul during his journey to Rome starting in Acts 27:1 through 28:31 and perhaps well beyond Paul's trial before Ceasar.

Acts 27:1 "And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band."

After Paul's imprisonment ended in Rome is probably when he wrote 2 Timothy 4:11, "Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." Most scholars believe the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) were written between Paul's first and second imprisonments, between 64 to 67AD. And Luke would be a ready scribe. So Paul ends Titus 3:15, "All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen."




Study each Apostle with these links:
Study the other Disciples: