Today is a very special day. It's a day of a beginning, really. We're going to begin our daily dedication of the gospel of Luke today. This is going to be a great adventure. I think the wonderful things about going through the gospel of Luke is that Jesus Christ is the theme of this gospel and for the next 24 days we will see why we celebrate Christmas.

Luke’s First Book In Snippets

This third gospel will challenge us to take the time to more carefully consider Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, teachings, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. As an associate of the Apostle Paul, Dr. Luke had the opportunity to travel widely and interview many of those most closely associated with Jesus. He even won the confidence of Jesus’ mother, Mary, and reports far more about Jesus’ birth and childhood than all the other gospel writers combined.

Many of Luke’s original readers, like Luke himself, were Gentiles. With that audience in mind, Luke gives us special emphasis to poetry, prayers, poverty and wealth, repentance, and women. When a physician sets aside his practice to pursue a venture that will absorb his time for years to come and perhaps the rest of his life, he has very likely yielded to some truly momentous calling. His interest in delivering a Gospel for everyone can be seen from the very outset, where he traces Jesus’ genealogy back to Adam. And just who is Theophilus who seems to be the key figure in Luke’s gospel?

The fact is that we really do not know who Theophilus was, which is why there are several different theories as to who he might be. No matter how much evidence there may or may not be for each theory, the simple fact is we do not know who Theophilus was because the Bible does not identify who he was.

The name “Theophilus” literally means “loved by God,” but carries the idea of “friend of God.” This has led some to believe that “Theophilus” is just a generic title that applies to all Christians. However, from the context of Luke and Acts, it seems clear that Luke is writing to a specific individual, even though his message is also intended for all Christians in all centuries. While both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts have applications for all Christians, they were probably written to a specific individual whom Luke addresses as “most excellent Theophilus.” Luke 1:3 Since it seems clear that Theophilus was an actual person, we will look at what we do know about him from the Bible and then discuss a few of the many theories as to who he might have been. First, it is important to note that Luke addresses him as “most excellent,” a title often used when referring to someone of honor or rank, such as a Roman official. Paul used the same term when addressing Felix Acts (23:26, Acts 24:2 and Festus Acts 26:25.)

Therefore, one of the most common theories is that Theophilus was possibly a Roman officer or high-ranking official in the Roman government. Since Paul was a companion and mentor to Luke, this gospel along with Acts may have been a legal brief in Paul’s defense when on trial in Rome.

Day 1 Luke 1

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like to be standing in the Temple with Zacharias when the angel Gabriel suddenly appears. Everything I thought I knew would instantaneously change forever! In the ensuing conversation do we recognize the parallel in a much earlier conversation between Abraham and God?

Gen 18:16-33 / Luke 1:7

Not only does Gabiel say “I’ll be back” and when I do your wife will bear a son. There seems to be a struggling belief when told of God’s blessing leaving Zacharias speechless during Elizabeth’s entire pregnancy. John will live the life of a Nazarite in that he will not drink wine or no strong spirits. I really enjoy how God keeps this “All in the Family.”

The angel Gabriel then visits Mary and gives her the news that she will be with child of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ teaches that Jesus was divinely conceived in the virgin Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit, thereby bringing together His two natures: deity and humanity. We see the foretelling of this in the Old Testament where Isaiah writes, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isa 7:14