Luke the Evangelist is credited with writing two of the books of the Bible - The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles - totalling around a quarter of the text of the New Testament. He is believed to have been born in the town of Antioch, in Turkey and died at the age of 83 in around 84 AD - making him a close contemporary of Christ.

Although both of Luke's books are anonymous, he is identified by name in other writings, most notably those by Paul, including Paul's Epistle to Philemon, Colossians, and 2 Timothy. It is Paul who identifies Luke as a physician - hence his alternative designation of St Luke the Physician - and much of Acts is written in the first person plural, thus suggesting Luke travelled and worked closely with Paul in the development of the early Church. A reference in Colossians, implying that Luke was uncircumcised, has led to speculation that he was an early Gentile convert to Christianity. Certainly, his writings emphasize the universality of Christianity to people of all races. Luke's Gospel also stresses Christ's human love for Mankind, His compassion for sinners, and (unlike Paul) the important role played by women in Christ's Ministry.

The Gospel and Acts are clearly the work of an educated, intelligent, and perceptive writer. Luke's Gospel contains many incidents not recorded elsewhere, including a number of favourite parables, such as those of the Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Luke is regarded by both religious and secular academics as a competent and trustworthy historian.

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