Luke, a Gospel writers, contributed over 1/4 of the New Testament, yet he never claims to have been an eyewitness to Jesus ministry and life. Epiphanius, one of the early Christian Church Fathers states Luke was one of the 70 Apostles sent out by Jesus.

According to the letters by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, Luke was a Gentile, a physician, and a dear friend (Colossians 4:14). At one time he was Paul’s only companion in prison (2 Timothy 4:10,11). A disciple of Paul, he followed Paul until his [Paul's] martyrdom. The New Testament adds no more about Luke directly, but since the time of the Muratorian Canon (c.180) he has been recognised as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Parts of (Acts 16:10-18); (Acts 20:5-15); (Acts 27:27-28:16) claim to be narrated by an unidentified travelling companion of Paul, so this may have come from an intelligent deduction given the references to Luke in his letters, combined with the account in Acts.

Both ‘The Gospel of Luke’ and ‘Acts’ emphasize, the journey of the gospel from the home of Judaism, Jerusalem, to Rome, the heart of the imperial world. It is a gospel for all: the poor, foreigners, women, any who think themselves denied salvation. Jesus is the cornerstone, his example followed by the heroes of the early church, recorded for us to follow.

Christian tradition, starting from the 8th century, states that Luke was the first icon painter. He is said to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary and Child, in particular the Hodegetria image in Constantinople (now lost). Starting from the 11th century, a number of painted images were venerated as his autographee works, including the Black Madonna of Częstochowa and Our Lady of Vladimir. He was said to have also painted Saints Peter and Paul, and to have illustrated a gospel with a full cycle of miniatures.

What happened to Luke after Paul's death is not known. Tradition says he wrote his Gospel and Acts in Greece and after his death, his remains were taken to Constantinople about 338 CE and later moved to Padua, Italy. His head, is in the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, his body, in the Abbey of Santa Giustina in Padua. A rib that was closest to his heart is interred at his original burial place in Thebes. These relics have undergone scientific testing, the results of which state he is of Syrian descent and died between AD 72 and AD 416. His spirit and soul undoubtedly reside with the Lord.

BORN: Antioch, Syria, Roman Empire (Turkey)

DIED: Unknown (traditionally aged 84) Thebes, Boeotia, Achaea, Roman Empire