Expert: Sal - 4/13/2004

Question
Hello,

Many of the events described in Luke's Gospel--the Annunciation, the Agony in the Garden, the Transfiguration, the Visitation--are recorded in detail.

However, I wonder how Luke knew these details?  He was not among the three disciples on Mt. Olivet, he was not among those in Gethsemane (and even if he were, the Lord prayed "a stone's throw" from his sleeping disciples, so how could Luke have known of the sweat becoming blood?), he was not present when Gabriel announced the conception of the Lord to Our Blessed Mother, and he was likely not present for some other events.


I do not mean to sound cycnical, but my question is simply, how did Luke (and the other three evangelists for that matter) record some of the details they did when it is clearly impossible that they were present?  

Answer
Dear Michael:

St. Luke was an accurate historian. What he did was to interview those who had first hand information and he may have had access to writings about the events that he described. Many scholars believe that St. Luke may have read St. Mark's gospel and had a written account of the sayings of Jesus to further help him to write an accurate account of the life of our Lord.

St. Luke opens his gospel telling us that he investigated the life of Jesus in order to produce an accurate account.

"Many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events which have been fulfilled in our midst, precisely as those events were transmitted to us by the original eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. I too have carefully traced the whole sequence of events from the beginning, and have decided to set it in writing for you, Theophilus, so that Your Excellency may see how reliable the instruction was that you received" (Luke 1:1-4).

In St. Luke's case he simply investigated by interviewing eyewitnesses and others with information that he then discerned for accuracy. In St. Matthew's and St. John's cases they had information learned while with our Lord. Jesus obviously told them what happened at the times when they were not present.St. Mark was a disciple of St. Peter and so learned from him of the life of our Lord.

I hope that helps. If I can be of further assistance do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal