100 Reasons to Believe New Testament History
Luke the Historian
The writer known as Luke contributed more to the New Testament than any other single writer in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Luke’s historical statements have been subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny over the centuries, and have been found absolutely accurate, in even matters of detail A. As this next section will demonstrate (reasons 29-52), Luke’s historical statements regarding first century geopolitical divisions, social customs, the legal system, the names, titles and influence of particular political rulers, and nautical knowledge, all appear completely correct.
While no single point in this next section can be said to prove the entire New Testament true, collectively they form a powerful argument for the trustworthiness of this ancient work known as the Book of Acts. Such precision in matters of detail in Acts regarding lands far removed from each other support the ancient belief that it was penned by Luke, the beloved physician and travelling companion of the apostle Paul.
Luke the Historian - Notes and References
A. “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy…this author should be placed alone with the very greatest of historians.” Sir William Ramsey, “The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament”, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1915, p. 222
“Luke’s history is unsurpassed in respect of it’s trustworthiness.” Sir William Ramsey, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen”, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1962, p. 81
“In all, Luke names thirty-two countries, fifty four cities and nine islands without error.” Norman Geisler, “The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics”Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1999, p. 47