luke 1.1-4
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Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I, too, decided, as one having a grasp of everything from the start, to write a well-ordered account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may have a firm grasp of the words in which you have been instructed.
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Since many have set their hands to laying out an orderly narrative regarding the events that have been brought to fulfillment among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning, and who became servants of the word, passed it on to us, it seemed a good thing that I also, having exactingly traced out everything from the beginning, should write it out in order for you, most exalted Theophilus, so that you might recognize the reliability of the accounts you have been taught.
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Many people have undertaken to draw up an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled in our midst. It has all been handed down to us by the original eyewitnesses and stewards of the word. So, most excellent Theophilus, since I had traced the course of the whole thing scrupulously from the start, I thought it a good idea to write an orderly account for you, so that you may have secure knowledge about the matters in which you have been instructed.
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Inasmuch as many have put their hand to order a narrative concerning the matters that are fully assured among us,
Just as the eyewitnesses from the beginning and those who became the word’s subordinates gave over to us,
It seemed to me, one who has carefully followed everything from above to write for you, Exceptional God-Lover, a sequentially ordered [narrative]
So you may perceive with security the words into which you have been catechized.
It is clearly important to Luke that his account be taken to be trustworthy. He’s giving us an account of the life of Jesus, and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before. And so it seems reasonable that he begin with his credentials of trust.
For Luke, it seems sufficient that he’s done his research, and is presenting an orderly account based on the reports of eyewitnesses. Presumably his relationship with Theophilus is such that there’s already an earned trust because of which Theophilus may be confident that Luke is being consciously truthful.
What Luke does not say is that he prayed over it, or that the words he writes are inspired by the Holy Spirit. For a gospel which certainly highlights both prayer and the Holy Spirit, this is a striking omission. This does not mean that he did not pray over it, nor does it imply that his words are not inspired by the Holy Spirit — absence does not imply negation.
So why did he neither mention prayer, nor the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
