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Luke: Not an Eyewitness, But
Truth-Finder
February 18, 2008 By Albert Friend The eyewitnesses in Acts 4:20 told Luke: “For we
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth
in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed
among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning
were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 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, That thou mightest
know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed”
(Luke 1:1-4). God used Luke to record over one fourth of the New
Testament, which covers the history of the establishment of the Church
over that period. Though he started his eyewitness report in 5 B.C. and
ended it in 70 A.D., Luke was not an eyewitness in our Bible until about
A.D. 50. When you read the book of Luke, it is as if you can
see him interviewing an eyewitness and God is inspiring him to write
what he is hearing. Study intently and get the same picture Luke got
when he heard it. Powerful Process Seeing and hearing are important to our learning
process. Luke wrote the accounts he saw when an eyewitness established
an information picture in his mind. Luke is telling us what the
eyewitness saw. God then confirmed the eyewitness with His oath--“Surely
I did it”--by inspiring Luke to write Holy Scripture. That process is
powerful. Think about that. Not only is Luke abiding by the rule
of two or three witnesses, but he is being confirmed by God
Himself--with His oath--that it is true. My heart leaps as I write this
truth. What does it do to you? Luke is a Bible-writing participant. Luke's life is a
Bible life. Luke writes a fascinating report about this life. His work
spans the New Testament from Matthew through Revelation. (The seven
churches in Revelation were part of Luke's knowledge of the early New
Testament church.) The way God settled many questions men have today
about His New Testament Church is by using a Gentile named Luke.
Eyewitnesses spoke pictures into Luke's mind. Luke wrote them with the
anointing of God's oath. When you get the same impressions Luke saw, you
will hear God say to you, “Surely I did it,” and all your questions will
be answered also. His Oath Ends Arguments God did it with His oath that ends all arguments. He
recorded a master plan that overlays the entire New Testament. God
inspired Luke to specifically preserve a confirmation history of what He
had already done. It is not to be taken lightly. Truth demands our
inspection. God used His oath and Luke to preserve a reliable copy
of New Testament history for our day and time. You do not need to know
the Greek language to be saved. It comes to us translated into the
English language and inspired with God's same oath. You can believe it
and rely on it. © 2008, Albert Friend ---------- Albert Friend is a 77-year-old minister of 57 years. He lives in Hamilton, Ohio, with his wife, Jean. They had four children: Albert, Michael, Bonnie, and Mark. All four children went into the ministry. |
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