In our last visit I introduced you to Dr. Luke, Paul’s personal physician. Whenever needed he was at Paul’s side, ministering to his physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. By this I do not mean that he was more mature or spiritually knowledgeable than Paul. But when Paul needed a caring friend Luke was there for him.
In this close relationship I believe Luke was an observant listener and learner. When he wasn’t caring for Paul’s personal needs he occupied himself by doing research on the life of Jesus Christ and on the early decades of the church’s growth. The first resulted in his writing of the Gospel of Luke. The second resulted in the history of the church in the book of Acts.
I’m sure Paul benefited from Luke’s research and writing even as Luke benefited from Paul’s teaching and passion. Luke probably became one of Paul’s closest friends. Fortunately for us, he provided for us a biography of Paul’s life.
He begins Acts as follows: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.”
He devotes the last half of the book to the life and ministry of Paul, concluding with him under house arrest in Rome. “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” At his side, no doubt, Dr. Luke kept an eye out for his health and welfare.
