Luke 

Luke, a physician of Antioch in Pisidia, was a gentile converted by the Apostle Paul. He reflects much of Paul's perspective and theology, and Luke’s gospel, in some ways, is the Gospel according to Paul. However, Luke did his due diligence and pulled from other sources. Luke interviewed key eyewitnesses. He found original works: a copy of the first four-fifths of Mark’s Gospel, the narrative of Matthew’s Gospel, a record made by a believer named Cedes, and notes purported to have been made by the Apostle Andrew.

Luke compiled his numerous notes after Paul’s death in the year 82 CE in Achaia. He planned three books about the history of Christ and Christianity, his second being the "Acts of the Apostles." In his writings, we get a glimpse of the Apostle Peter’s style and teaching from the sermons that Luke captured. Luke died in 90 CE after completing the second work.

Luke’s Gospel offers some unique views of the Master. Luke learned of the life and teaching of Jesus in 47 CE after his conversion. Luke preserved the grace Jesus exuded and presented the Master as a friend of the publicans and sinners. Luke also succeeded in presenting the fully human side of Jesus, who, just like all of us, had to wrestle to figure out the will of God in our lives and then do that will.

Few scholars give credence to the account of Jesus walking on water and calling out to Peter. Luke concluded this was Peter’s vision and did not include it in his gospel. Luke included Jesus raising the widow’s son from the dead, having heard the story from witnesses. Jesus explained to his apostles that the boy was only asleep, so it was not included in the other gospels.

The discourse Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and his second coming was highly misunderstood by the apostles, leading to confusion in their later accounts, including Luke's Gospel. Early second-century Jewish apocalyptic writings by Selta were incorporated into the Gospel records, contributing to this confusion, with elements like the parable of the ten virgins being added. However, the Apostle John remained unaffected by this misunderstanding.

Luke had a strong personal belief in social equality, and he did much to interpret the sayings of Jesus to be in harmony with his personal beliefs. Jesus did not teach his followers to avoid earthly possessions, only his twelve apostles. Jesus also did not direct his followers to adopt a communal mode of life and made no pronouncement of any sort regarding these matters.

The creation of calendars can be challenging, and historians appreciate it when an author includes a time reference, especially if they can match it up with the coinage of a ruler. Luke offers such a reference, stating that Jesus was baptized in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, which would be 29 CE since Augustus died in 14 CE. Tiberius had coins made in his honor in October 11 CE, as he was co-emperor with Augustus for two and one-half years before the death of Augustus. Therefore, Tiberius’ fifteenth year of actual rule was 26 CE. Jesus was indeed baptized on January 14, 26 CE.