Bible Study : Luke Ch.1-2 Luke 1:1-4

We spent the whole evening on 4 verses!!!

1:1
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

a. It doesn't say "things that have happened." It says "things that have been fulfilled."
NASB: "things that have been accomplished."

b. It doesn't say "things that we have fulfilled." It says "fulfilled among us."

c. Many have done this before. What is Luke's purpose for doing it again?

1:2
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

a. "from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word"
Who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word of Jesus' life? The disciples.
Was Luke a disciple? No.
If accounts from eyewitnesses and servants of the word (the disciples) were handed down to him, then he probably wasn't even hanging out with the disciples.

b. "servants of the word"
Servants of the Word?

1:3
Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

a. carefully investigated
Luke's account is trustworthy for details

b. everything - emphasis on thoroughness again
There is a difference between "Luke carefully writing down everything that ever happened" vs. "everything that Luke is writing down, he has carefully investigated"

c. write
Knowing that traditionally, accounts were passed down orally, we notice Luke wants to write it down

d. orderly account
NASB: "an account in consecutive order"

e. Who was Theophilus?
Theo = God
Philus = Beloved, dear
Theophilus = Beloved of God / Friend of God
This can mean Luke was writing to "those beloved of God."

But Luke wrote "most excellent Theophilus." By writing the title "most excellent" which usually refers to a respected person (like "Most Honorable Judge"), we get a clue that maybe Luke was writing to a person. We do not know.

The name Theophilus also appears in Acts 1:1 - most research and scholars concur Acts was written by Luke - but there's no title there. Hmmmm....

1:4
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

a. Theophilus has been taught these accounts before

b. Luke writes so that Theophilus may know the certainty of the things
NASB: "may know the exact truth"

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Bonus!

Having mentioned the Book of Acts, Wilson pointed us to the following:
1. Luke wrote down the Book of Acts
2. The Book of Acts contains accounts of what Paul did and what happened to Paul
3. The Book of Acts ends abruptly at the point right before Paul goes to trial.
4. Acts was also addressed to Theophilus.

So: What do you think was Luke's purpose for writing Acts? Who might Theophilus be?