Luke the Evangelist Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Luke the Evangelist
Detail from a window in the parish church of SS Mary and Lambert, Stonham Aspal, Suffolk, with stained glass representing St Luke the Evangelist
Apostle, Evangelist, and Martyr
Born	between 1 AD and 16 AD Antioch, Syria, Roman Empire (modern-day Antakya, Hatay, Turkey)
Died	between 84 AD and 100 AD (traditionally aged 84) Thebes, Boeotia, Achaea, Roman Empire (modern-day Thebes, Greece)
Venerated in	all Christian Churches that venerate Saints, and in the Druze faith
Major shrine	Padua, Italy
Feast	18 October
Attributes	Evangelist, Physician, a book or a pen, accompanied by a winged ox or calf, painting an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a brush or a palette
Patronage	Artists, bachelors, physicians, surgeons, farmers, rhetoricians, and others
Major works	Gospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles

Luke of Antioch

Occupation	Christian missionary and Historian
Language	Greek
Notable works	Gospel of Luke and Acts

Luke the Evangelist was one of the four people who traditionally wrote the canonical gospels. These gospels tell the story of Jesus. Early Christian leaders believed Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.

The New Testament mentions Luke a few times. The Bible book of Colossians (Col 4:14) calls him a physician. This means he was likely both a doctor and a follower of Paul.

Christians have seen Luke as a saint since the early days of the faith. Many believe he was a martyr, meaning he died for his beliefs. The Catholic Church and other Christian groups honor him as Saint Luke the Evangelist. He is a patron saint for artists, doctors, and surgeons. His special day is October 18.

Luke's Life Story
Who Wrote Luke and Acts?
Luke as a Historian
Luke as an Artist
Luke's Symbol
Honoring Saint Luke
Luke's Relics
Gallery
See also

Luke's Life Story

Print of Luke the Evangelist. Made by Crispijn van de Passe de Oude.

Many experts think Luke was a doctor from Antioch in ancient Syria. Some believe he was a Hellenic Jew, while others think he was a Gentile Christian. His writings suggest he wrote for both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Luke's Greek writing shows he was very educated. He knew about famous Greek writers like Homer and Plato. This knowledge likely came from his schooling in the eastern Mediterranean.

The Bible mentions Luke in Philemon 1:24, Colossians 4:14, and 2 Timothy 4:11. These are letters written by Paul.

If Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts, we can learn more about him. He says he was not an eyewitness to Jesus's life. But in Acts, he uses "we" when talking about Paul's travels. This means he was with Paul during those times.

James Tissot, Saint Luke, Brooklyn Museum

Luke was with Paul in Rome near the end of Paul's life. The book of 2 Timothy 4:11 says, "Only Luke is with me." The last chapter of Acts also mentions Luke being in Rome.

Luke died at age 84 in Boeotia, Greece. This is a common belief from early traditions. His tomb was in Thebes, and his remains were moved to Constantinople in 357 AD.

Who Wrote Luke and Acts?

The Gospel of Luke does not say who wrote it. However, it does say the author researched the events carefully. It is written for someone named Theophilus.

The oldest copies of the Gospel, from around 200 AD, say Luke wrote it. Early Christian writers like Irenaeus also said Luke was the author.

The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are like two parts of one big story. Scholars call them "Luke–Acts." Together, they make up a large part of the New Testament. This is the biggest contribution by a single author.

Luke as a Historian

St. Luke painting the Virgin, by Maarten van Heemskerck, 1532

Many scholars see Luke's writings as a type of Greek history. Luke 1:1–4 says the author did historical research for the book.

Some historians believe Luke was very accurate in his writings. For example, archaeologist William Mitchell Ramsay said Luke was a "historian of the first rank." He praised Luke's accurate descriptions of towns and official titles. Edward Musgrave Blaiklock, a professor, also said Luke was as accurate as the famous historian Thucydides.

Saint Luke the Evangelist, a medieval Armenian illumination by Toros Roslin

However, some modern historians question Luke's historical accuracy. This is because Luke's writings include supernatural events like angels and demons. Modern historians often focus on natural explanations. Some argue that Luke's main goal was to share his faith, not just to record facts.

There are also some small disagreements about dates or numbers in Luke's writings. For example, the order of events mentioned by Gamaliel in Acts 5:36–37. But these points are often debated among scholars.

Luke as an Artist

Luke the Evangelist painting the first icon of the Virgin Mary

Christian tradition, starting around the 8th century, says Luke was the first painter of icons. Icons are religious paintings. He is believed to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus as a child. One famous image, the Hodegetria in Constantinople, was thought to be his work.

Later, many other paintings were believed to be by Luke. These include the Black Madonna of Częstochowa and Our Lady of Vladimir. He was also said to have painted Saints Peter and Paul.

In the Middle Ages, groups of painters called "Guilds of Saint Luke" were formed. These guilds protected artists. The idea that Luke painted icons of Mary and Jesus is very popular, especially in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Luke's Symbol

Winged altar of the Guild of Saint Luke, Hermen Rode, Lübeck (1484)

In art, Saint Luke is often shown with an ox or bull. This animal usually has wings. Sometimes, only the winged ox symbol is shown, especially when it's with the symbols of the other Four Evangelists.

Honoring Saint Luke

The Eastern Orthodox Church honors Saint Luke on several dates throughout the year. These dates celebrate his life as an apostle, evangelist, and companion of Paul.

Luke's Relics

Relics are parts of a saint's body or belongings. Many places claim to have relics of Saint Luke. There are eight bodies and nine heads in different locations that are said to be his.

In 1992, a Greek Orthodox leader asked for a piece of Luke's relics from Padua, Italy. This led to a scientific study of the relics in Padua. Tests like carbon-14 dating showed the remains were from a person of Syrian background who died between 72 AD and 416 AD.

Today, Luke's relics are divided: