L
u k e: This evangelist (preaching and dissemination
of the gospel) is generally supposed to have been a physician (Colossians
4:14), and a companion of the apostle Paul.
The style of his writings and his acquaintance with the Jewish rites and
usage sufficiently show that he was of the religion of the Jews, while
his knowledge of the Greek language and his name speak his Gentile origin.
This Gospel appears to give
a genuine and inspired account of the life, miracles, and doctrines of
our Lord, learned from those who heard and witnessed his discourses and
miracles. There are many passages in Paul's epistles, as well as in the
writings of Luke, which show the extent and accuracy of his medical knowledge.
Written in Greece 63 A.D.
The date and circumstances of his conversion
are unknown. According to his own statement (Luke
1:1-4), he was an "eye-witness from the beginning".
It is probable that he was
a physician in Troas, and was there converted by Paul, to whom he attached
himself. He accompanied him to Philippi, but did not there share his imprisonment,
nor did he accompany him further after his release in his missionary journey
at this time.
On Paul's third visit to
Philippi (Acts
20:5,6) we again meet with Luke, who probably had spent all the intervening
time in that city, a period of seven or eight years. From this time Luke
was Paul's constant companion during his journey to Jerusalem (20:6-21:18).
He again disappears from view during Paul's imprisonment at Jerusalem and
Caesarea, and only reappears when Paul sets out for Rome (Acts
27:1), whither he accompanies him (Acts
28:2,12-16), and where he remains with him till the close of his first
imprisonment:.Philemon
1:24;
Colossians 4:14. The
last notice of the "beloved physician" is in 2Timothy
4:11.
"Out of a total of 1151 verses,
Luke has 389 in common with Matthew and Mark, 176 in common with Matthew
alone, 41 in common with Mark alone, leaving 544 peculiar to himself. In
many instances all three use identical language."
The date of its composition
is uncertain. It must have been written before the Acts, the date of the
composition of which is generally fixed at about 63 or 64 A.D. This Gospel
was written, therefore, probably about 60 or 63, when Luke may have been
at Caesarea in attendance on Paul, who was then a prisoner. Others have
conjectured that it was written at Rome during Paul's imprisonment there.
But on this point no positive certainty can be attained.
It is commonly supposed that
Luke wrote under the direction, if not at the dictation of Paul. Many words
and phrases are common to both.
J
o h n: was born at Bethsaida. Written in Asia Minor 97 A.D. The brother
of James the "Greater":.Matthew
4:21; 10:2;
Mark
1:19; 3:17;
10:35.
He was one, probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matthew
4:21) and Salome:.Matthew
27:56. His father was apparently a man of some wealth:.compare
Mark
1:20;
Luke
5:3;
John
19:27.
He was doubtless trained
in all that constituted the ordinary education of Jewish youth. When he
grew up he followed the occupation of a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee.
When another John, John the Baptist, began his ministry in the wilderness
of Judea, this John, with many others, gathered round him and was deeply
influenced by his teaching.
This apostle and evangelist,
John, seems to have been the youngest of the twelve disciples.,
who were contantly around Jesus until His death. He was especially favoured
with our Lord's regard and confidence, so as to be spoken of as the disciple
whom Jesus loved:.John
13:23;
20:2;
21:7,20.
He was very sincerely attached to Jesus, deeply believing what Jesus was
on earth for. He exercised his ministry at Jerusalem with much success
and outlived the destruction of that city.
History relates that after
the death of Jesus' mother, John resided chiefly at Ephesus, towards the
close of Domitian's reign (Domitian lived 51-96 A.D. and reigned as Emperor
of Rome 81-96 A.D.; He completed the conquest of Britain).
After 89 A.D. his government
became dictatorial, leading to a reign of terror. Domitian was assassinated
by a freedman in connivance with
his empress and officers of the court.
John was banished to the
isle of Patmos where he wrote the vision he had called Revelation (the
Book of Revelation, the last book in the Bible). Like Ezekiel (Ezekiel
Chapter
1; chapters
2-18) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-7)
long before him, John too saw pictures in his mind of the
Throne of God and its goings on.
On the accession of Nerva,
he was set at liberty and returned to Ephesus, where it is thought, in
advanced age, he wrote his Gospel (Book of John) and Epistles (letters)
(1st, 2nd, and
3rd John), about A. D. 97, and died soon after.
In about A.D. 90, Ephesus
became the Eastern centre of the new spiritual life for those that were
tagged as 'Christians':.Acts
11:26. The seven churches of Asia were the objects of his special care:.Revelation
1:11.