The New Student's Reference Work/Luke

Luke, the reputed author of the third Gospel and of Acts. He was a friend and companion of Paul, being spoken of (Colossians iv: 14) as the beloved physician. In the third gospel Luke makes no pretension to apostolic sanction or authority but simply proposes to compile and arrange the various facts and incidents he has gathered from others. Among other material used by him were the discourses of Christ recorded by Matthew and some parts of Mark; but he must have had other sources for the details he has given concerning the birth of Jesus and for the canticles, which he alone has preserved.