Thank you for the question on Luke, “Did Luke, the Greek Gentile influence the Apostle Paul?”
The Scripture is mostly silent about the Apostle Paul’s traveling companion, Luke. Luke was a physician.
Colossians 4 says this about Luke, “4 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (NIV).
II Timothy 4 says this about Luke, 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (NIV).
Philemon says this about Luke, “And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers” (NIV).
The Apostle Paul was the great teacher, evangelists, and church planter. In Paul’s many journeys, it was Luke who healed his wounds and comfort him. Paul needed a physician’s hand to put ointment or sew his wounds. It is likely that Luke even tried to heal Paul’s thorn in the flesh.
Luke was more than a traveling doctor for the Apostle Paul. With Luke’s medical knowledge and skill, he had people come to him for medical advice for their conditions. Luke had the opportunity to share Jesus Christ with those who came to him. Luke was a fellow co-labor with Paul, using the education and skills the Lord gave to him.
Although the Scripture is silent about whether Paul confided in Luke, one would think that he heard Paul’s words and prayers. When Paul mentioned that he was all alone except for Luke, Paul was grateful for his faithful companion who has stood with him in most of his trials. It was Luke who picked up the pieces after Paul was beaten or stoned. Certainly, Paul was grateful to Luke.
If one has a friend like Luke, one has found a true friend indeed in times of joy and in times of hardship. Treasure those friendships.
SUMMARY: Luke was the Apostle Paul’s physician, confident, and co-laborer in Christ Jesus.
-Kingston