Nativity - A Devotional Commentary On The Birth Of Christ - By J. Michael Herron

Matthew. Both Matthew and Mark were eyewitnesses of the events of Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection and servants who preached his word throughout the world. ‘Eyewitness’ is used only here in the New Testament… ‘We have the very word in the medical term autopsy.’ 3 All Luke’s investigations with regard to the eyewitnesses mentioned here were made during the years prior to Paul’s death.’ 4 Luke would have met Mark in the early 40s AD in Antioch of Syria. Both he and Mark were companions of Paul during his 1 st imprisonment in Rome in 62 AD. ‘ Aristarchus, who is in prison with me , sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin…Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings…(Col 4:10,14 NLT) Luke was most likely with Mark and Paul during Paul’s second imprisonment and death in 66 AD. ‘Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.’ (2 Tim 4:10 NLT) Mark was also with Peter during his imprisonment and death in 64 AD. Peter writes; ‘ your sister church here in Babylon (Rome) sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.’(1 Pet 5:13 NLT) Luke spent time with Mark as well as Peter and Paul going over their direct recollections of the events of Christ’s life. Even with the Gospels of Matthew and Mark in hand, Luke felt there was room for another account of the life of Jesus. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you,… Carefully investigated is the Greek word (Akribos) meaning ‘accurately…going into minute details, from (akron,) the topmost point.’ 5 1 Corinthians 15:5,6 gives us the scope of the many persons Luke might have interviewed in his carefully investigated gospel: ‘ He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time,