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Luke the Evangelist

Luke the Evangelist

?–84 CE · Philippi

Physician and companion of Paul, Luke is the traditional author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Of Antiochian birth and Greek parentage — attested by Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. 3.4), the Anti-Marcionite Prologue, and Jerome — he joined Paul's mission at Troas, remained at Philippi, and accompanied Paul on the final, fateful journey to Rome. He died, according to early tradition, in old age in Boeotia, Greece.

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Stop 1 of 515–47Birthplace, Early Life

AntiochSyria

What they did here

Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. 3.4) and the Anti-Marcionite Prologue both identify Luke as a native of Antioch-on-the-Orontes, born of a Greek family and trained as a physician there. The ancient city underlies modern Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkey — not present-day Syria.

Antioch in this era

Under Roman imperial rule as the capital of the province of Syria, this cosmopolitan city — population estimates range widely from around 150,000 to 500,000 — became the first Gentile heartland of the faith, where Acts records that disciples were first called "Christians," and the launch pad for Paul's missionary journeys westward.

In Antioch at the same time

Peter the Apostle, Paul the Apostle

See other sages who lived in Antioch→

Works(2)