MPV Commentary

It appears from the Acts of the Apostles and the apostolic epistles that early Christian preaching focused on summarizing key facts about Jesus' life, often with a few words of application to the audience. These summaries were likely compiled into written accounts based on eyewitness testimony.

Luke refers to such narratives as having been "believed surely" or "on sure grounds" among Christians, and drawn up from the testimony of those who witnessed events firsthand. However, when he adds that it seemed good to him also to write in order, tracing down all things with exactness from their first rise, he is essentially claiming that his Gospel supersedes these earlier accounts.

While none of these early narratives have survived, Luke's Gospel and the other canonical Gospels remain as the authoritative records of Jesus' life. Apocryphal or spurious gospels, often promoted by those opposed to the truths found in the canonical Gospels, may still exist, but they are not recognized as authentic.

1. To draw up a narrative in order.
2. From the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, as is evident from what follows.
3. From the very first events, referring specifically to the details of Jesus' birth and early life, which Luke alone records.
4. So that you might thoroughly understand the facts about Jesus.

Theophilus was likely a high-ranking official in Greece or Asia Minor, given the title "most noble" used by Luke elsewhere (Acts 22:26; 24:3; 26:25).