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The '''Gospel of Luke''' is widely considered one of the most beautiful books of its length written (of the four Gospel accounts Luke's is the longest). It tells the story of the life of Jesus, being written to Theophilus.  Luke does not claim to be an eyewitness, but instead one who has "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" (Luke 1:3) and now wants to "write an orderly account" so that Theophilus would "know the certainty of the things" he had been taught. (Luke 1:3-4)  The author Luke was a [[Gentile]], as confirmed by [[Paul]] at [[Colossians]] 4:11,14.  The Gospel of Luke is the 3rd book in the [[New Testament]] coming after the Gospels of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] and [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], and before the [[Gospel of John]].

The '''Gospel of Luke''' is called "the most beautiful book ever written."<ref>See, e.g., [[NRSV]] Study Bible at 1502.</ref> It tells the story of the life of Jesus, as written in perfect [[Greek]] to Theophilus.  Luke does not claim to be an eyewitness, but instead one who has "carefully investigated everything from the beginning" (Luke 1:3) and now wants to "write an orderly account" so that Theophilus would "know the certainty of the things" he had been taught. (Luke 1:3-4)  The author Luke was a [[Gentile]], as confirmed by [[Paul]] at [[Colossians]] 4:11,14.  The Gospel of Luke is the 3rd book and longest [[the Gospel|Gospel]], placed after [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] and [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and before the [[Gospel of John]].

The Gospel of Luke was written in flawless [[Greek]] and has been called "the most beautiful book ever written."<ref>See, e.g., [[NRSV]] Study Bible at 1502.</ref>  Only this Gospel tells the parables of the [[Good Samaritan]] and the [[Prodigal Son]], and Luke recounts them with exquisite, emotional detail.  Only the Gospel of Luke recounts with literary skill the meeting of the risen [[Lord]] with the two men walking on their way to Emmaus, whose "eyes were kept from recognizing him."<ref>Luke 24:13-35.</ref> The witnesses to [[Jesus]] on the road to Emmaus were not any of [[the Apostles]] or [[Mark]], and thus only the historian (Luke) describes that encounter.

Unique to the Gospel of Luke are:

 

*The encounter with disciples on the road to Emmaus, whose "eyes were kept from recognizing him."<ref>Luke 24:13-35.</ref>;

 

The witnesses to [[Jesus]] on the road to Emmaus were not any of [[the Apostles]] or [[Mark]], and thus only the historian (Luke) can describe that encounter.

Luke may have been inspired by the [[Epistles to the Hebrews]], which is perhaps the best-written Greek work in all of history, and which some of Luke's writings (especially parts of the [[Acts of the Apostles]]) appear to imitate in style and word choice.  Luke is considered one of the [[synoptic gospels]] and Luke is generally considered to have borrowed from Mark as one of his sources as did Matthew.  It is unknown if Matthew or Luke borrowed from each other or which came first.

Luke may have been inspired by the [[Epistles to the Hebrews]], which is perhaps the best-written Greek work in all of history, and which some of Luke's writings (especially parts of the [[Acts of the Apostles]]) appear to imitate in style and word choice.  Luke is considered one of the [[synoptic gospels]] and Luke is generally considered to have borrowed from Mark as one of his sources as did Matthew.  It is unknown if Matthew or Luke borrowed from each other or which came first.