This book was written by Luke, “the beloved physician” and often companion of Paul. He is thought by many to have been the only Gentile author of any part of the New Testament.
Luke was a tremendous historian, missionary, church planter, traveler, and writer, as well as a physician.
Luke gave the most complete account of Christ’s ancestry. He wanted to create an accurate, chronological, and comprehensive account of the unique life of Jesus Christ to strengthen the faith of Gentile believers and stimulate saving faith among nonbelievers.
Though specifically dedicated to Theophilus, this gospel is slanted toward all Gentiles. Theophilus was apparently a high official of some sort.
Luke’s emphasis was on the humanity of Christ. Twenty-six times the key phrase “Son of Man” is found in the gospel as he attempted to present an accurate account of the facts about the life of Christ.
The key word of Luke’s gospel is “save.” Together with the forms “Savior” and “salvation,” the word is used twenty times in the book.
More than half of the material found in this gospel is not in any of the other three. Luke included more than the other gospels about women, children, the home, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and praise.
Although Matthew is divided into more chapters, Luke is actually the longest and most comprehensive of the four gospels, presenting Jesus as the perfect Man who came to seek and to save lost sinners.
All the gospels except John’s were written before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The precise place where Luke penned his gospel is not known, but some speculate that it may have been in Caesarea during Paul’s two-year imprisonment there (Acts 24:27). It covers the time period from the announcement to Zacharias to the ascension of Christ.
An outline of the book (presenting Jesus as the Son of Man):