Spiritual books are supposed to be ethereal, or other-worldly. They're supposed to express truths that humanity believes, rather than verifiable facts. Or are they? When arriving at the correct location depends on the accuracy of your smartphone's navigation, don't you hope that whatever database it's connected to is updated to the minute? As one who once found myself lost in a bare field while my phone indicated a store location much less rural, I do!
The Bible is not just a list of abstract concepts to be pondered. It's not a set of opinions to be tried. It's a painfully honest look at fallen human nature, and what God did to redeem that nature. It's factual enough to live (and die) by.
Consider just one aspect of Luke, for example. Studying the information that scholars are able to verify in the two works he authored, Luke and Acts, shows us that he was an accurate historian. If we can trust his historical accuracy, then we can trust the Jesus he wrote about. Look at the following names and titles. But it gets even better after that!
Names and Titles
In Luke 2:1-2, Luke mentions Caesar Augustus as the ruler of the Roman Empire and Quirinius as the governor of Syria during the time of Jesus' birth. This reference to historical figures and their titles is accurate according to the Roman historical records and practices of the time.
In Luke 3:1, Luke refers to "the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar" when introducing the ministry of John the Baptist. Tiberius Caesar was the Roman Emperor at the time, and the title is accurate according to the Roman practice of counting the years of an emperor's reign.
In Luke 3:2-3, Luke mentions the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas during the ministry of John the Baptist. This reference to the high priests is considered accurate in terms of the historical and religious context of the time, as Annas and Caiaphas were known high priests during the first century AD in Judea.
In Acts 14:6-12, Luke describes an incident in Lystra where the people mistook Paul and Barnabas for gods and wanted to offer sacrifices to them. Luke refers to the local priest of Zeus as the "priest of Zeus," which is considered accurate in the context of the Greek cultural and religious practices of the time.
In Acts 16:14, Luke mentions Lydia as a "seller of purple" in Philippi. This is considered accurate, as purple dye was a luxury item associated with the city of Thyatira, where Lydia was likely from, and her occupation as a seller of purple indicates her social status and trade. So far, so good!
Mayors
Today, in the USA, a mayor is a mayor. Whether you're the Mayor of Alford, FL or the Mayor of New York, NY, you're still called a Mayor. That's amazing! New York has a population threatening to reach 9 million people. Alford, by contrast, is so small if they opened a book store, it would be called "Books-a-Dozen!" The responsibilities may be a bit different, but the chief executive officer for both of these municipalities is called, "Mayor."
But when Luke wrote the Gospel According to Luke, and the Acts of the Apostles, the size of an area determined the title of its ruler. Even more confusing was the fact that the title would change as the size of the city changed. Luke must have responded with, “Challenge accepted!” Even facing these titles the changed with the cities, everywhere Luke gave the title of a city ruler, or rulers, he got it right!
Here are some examples:
* Sergius Paulus and Gallio - mentioned in Acts 13:7 and 18:12.
The Greek for the title is Anthupatoi - usually translated proconsul.
Luke got it right!
* The magistrates at Philippi - mentioned in Acts 16 when Paul was thrown in prison.
The Greek is Strategoi.
Luke got it right again!
* The city officials at Thessalonica - Acts 17:8
Politarches in Greek.
Exactly right!
* The city clerk of Ephesus - Acts 19
The Greek uses the phrase Polis Grammateus.
Correct!
* Governor Felix - Acts 23
In Greek his title is Hegemon.
Right again!
* Publius, The chief official on Malta - Acts 28
The title was Protos.
Luke scores again!
Accurate Writer, Confident Reader
Discovering that Luke is a rigorous historian should come as no surprise. This is the author who started his report with, "...since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught" (Luke 1:3–4).
An accurate writer makes a confident reader. If Luke records the names of city rulers correctly, we can also trust the way of salvation and life that he presents.
I've always encouraged people to make more Bible reading a goal. I reiterate that you do so with confidence in the truth and accuracy of the Word. This doesn't mean that you take every poem literally The Lord's "feathers and wings" in the Psalms are probably about protection and security (Psalm 91:4). This also doesn't mean every prophecy is about you personally. ("... I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries." -Ezekiel 25:7)
But if it says Jesus wept, slept, ate, healed, died, and rose, you can believe it!
So pick up Luke-Acts and start.
Read it!
Heed it!
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from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ,
the Father’s Son,
will be with us
in truth and love.”
2 John 1:3
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