The Life and Legacy of Saint Luke the Evangelist

Saint Luke, also known as Luke the Evangelist, was one of the four Evangelists of the New Testament and is traditionally known as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He is the patron saint of medics, physicians, surgeons, students, butchers, and artists.

He was born in Antioch, Syria, in the first century AD and died in Thebes, Greece in the same century. He was canonized as a saint in the fifth century. Saint Luke is associated with a winged ox due to the phrase “as a young ox,” which was used to describe him in the Gospel of Luke. Other symbols associated are a book and painting implements. Saint Luke was a physician by trade and was known for his ability to write about the miraculous deeds of Jesus and the early church. He was a close friend of St. Paul, who wrote of Luke in Colossians 4:14, “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor.”

The Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke are the only two books of the New Testament traditionally attributed to Luke. The Gospel of Luke is the longest book of the New Testament, and it is the only one of the four gospels to include the stories of the annunciation, the visitation and the nativity. The Gospel of Luke also contains the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. He was the only Gentile to write a book of the Bible and was also the only one of the four Evangelists to witness the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

Some interesting facts about Saint Luke is that he is believed to be the first Christian iconographer, or painter of religious images. In the early church, Luke was credited with painting the first images of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. He is also believed to have been the author of the earliest Christian hymn, “The Magnificat.”  He is the only evangelist whose name is not found in the Bible. 

Saint Luke was a very important figure in the early church and his Gospel is of great value to Christians today. His feast day is celebrated each October 18th and his legacy is remembered as a great physician, author, theologian and for his historic impact on the early church and beyond!