Luke 1:1-4

NLT: ¹Most honorable Theophilus: Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. ²They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fulfillment of his promises. ³Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summary for you, ⁴to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.

NIV: ¹Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ²just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

NASB: ¹In as much as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, ²just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, ³it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; ⁴so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

KJV: ¹Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ²Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; ³It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Comment: Luke, at the beginning of his gospel, indicates there were eyewitnesses besides the apostles to the events in Jesus' life. Luke also quotes Paul and Barnabas as making this point in Acts 13:30-31 and indirectly includes it in Acts 1:21-26. Luke states that he had personally verified the accuracy of these eyewitness accounts. This means every event recorded in the gospel of Luke had been investigated including Jesus' resurrection. For example, Luke would've had to check public records for things like births, accounts of Jesus crucifixion by the Roman authorities, and John the Baptist's ministry and death. Also he would have had to interview some of the eyewitnesses. Luke would have necessarily needed to perform this sort of verification since he had not become a Christian, in all likelihood, until Paul's second missionary journey [51-54 AD]. In fact, Luke appeals to the fact that he had gone to all this trouble as the basis for believing what he had managed to summarize in his gospel. This indicates Luke wasn't just someone looking to join a new religion, but someone who needed to be convinced before believing what he was told. And finally, how could Luke honestly claim to be reassuring Theophilus of the certainty of what Theophilus had been taught unless he had actually investigated the events?