Who is Theophilus in Luke 1:1-4? I read it and there’s something about what Luke stated there specifically in verse 3 when he says, “With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.”
Luke was a man used greatly by the Lord in his lifetime. We know he was a doctor by profession because of what we read in Colossians 4:14, “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” He was a faithful traveling companion to Paul and was with him until the end. Paul wrote to Timothy in his last epistle, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11).
Not only was Luke a physician, but he was a prolific writer. He wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. It is in Acts 16 that Luke interjects himself into the narrative of Paul’s travels. We read in Acts 16:8-10, “And THEY passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately WE endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Notice how that, in the writing here, Luke speaks of “THEY passing by Mysia…”, but then he says, “WE endeavoured to go…” This shows at this point that Luke had joined Paul’s company and remained with him (with few exceptions) for the rest of his life.
In both of his books, Luke addresses his writing to a man named Theophilus.
- Luke 1:1-4, “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.”
- Acts 1:1-3, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
Luke’s phrase “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” in Luke 1:4 gives the impression that Theophilus was probably a Gentile with whom Luke had studied with about Christianity. Luke wants to give full proof to Theophilus that what he has learned about Jesus is in fact true.
Luke addresses this man as Theophilus in Acts and as most excellent Theophilus in Luke. So, who was this mysterious man who is never mentioned again in the Bible? The name Theophilus means, “friend of God”, so we can rightly assume that he was a believer.
Luke addressed Theophilus as “most excellent” because, in all likelihood, he was a prominent leader, perhaps a governor. This is the same term that is used to address both Felix, a governor (Acts 24:3) and Festus, a Roman procurator (Acts 26:25.) So, we can see that Theophilus was a believer with some political power, thus Luke addresses him with proper respect. Little is said of Theophilus, but we can see that he was important to Luke, and Luke wanted to share with him about the Lord Jesus. May we be so minded to make sure all our friends and acquaintances know about the Lord Jesus! (CC) (678.4)