just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Luke's careful wording subtly highlights that he, unlike the original apostles, isn't claiming to have been an eyewitness himself. Instead, he's drawing from those who were eyewitnesses and who then faithfully passed down the message, emphasizing his role in meticulously preserving their firsthand accounts for us.
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Luke begins by acknowledging that many others have already written accounts of Jesus' life and teachings. He clarifies that his own account is based on reliable information passed down from those who were there from the very start – the eyewitnesses and servants of God's message. He's meticulously investigated everything to ensure accuracy for his recipient, Theophilus.
How do we know what really happened with Jesus? Luke points us to the ultimate source: people who were there.
Luke starts his Gospel by grounding it in reliable sources. He mentions 'eyewitnesses' – people who personally saw and heard Jesus’ ministry from its very beginning.
Beyond just seeing, some were specifically chosen to share what they witnessed. What makes someone an authorized messenger?
The 'eyewitnesses' were also described as 'ministers of the word.' This isn't just about being present; it signifies a divine appointment to proclaim the message.
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Understand the original words
autoptai · Greek Noun
Those who personally observed and experienced the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their testimony serves as the foundational authority for the Christian faith, grounding the gospel in historical reality.
logos · Greek Noun
Refers to the message of the gospel—the spoken or written proclamation of God's truth, promises, and the life of Jesus. It is the core subject matter of the Christian faith and the object of the apostles' ministry.
Luke's careful note that others had already tried to write about Jesus highlights the challenge of preserving the truth accurately in the early church, especially when oral traditions were rich but varied, and not everyone had firsthand knowledge.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Death, and Resurrection
Jesus' public ministry begins, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection, establishing the core events of the Gospel.
c. AD 33-60
Oral Tradition of the Apostles
The apostles and early disciples, as eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, begin spreading the message of Jesus through oral teaching.
c. AD 50-60— this verse
Early Attempts at Written Accounts
Various individuals begin compiling accounts and teachings of Jesus, forming the basis for later, more systematic Gospels.
c. AD 60
Luke Begins Research for His Gospel
Luke, not an eyewitness himself, meticulously investigates the events and teachings, consulting those who were present from the beginning.
c. AD 62
Completion of Luke's Gospel
Luke finishes his Gospel, presenting an orderly account to Theophilus, ensuring the certainty of the teachings.
This passage highlights the criteria for selecting a replacement apostle, emphasizing the need for someone who had been with Jesus from His baptism to His ascension and was a witness of His resurrection, directly echoing the 'eyewitness' qualification Luke values.
1 Corinthians 15:3-7Paul here recounts the core Gospel message, stating he delivered 'what I also received.' This demonstrates the concept of 'tradition' or 'delivery' of the Word, mirroring Luke's mention of how the eyewitnesses delivered the message to those who came after.
John 15:27Jesus tells His disciples that they will be witnesses because they 'have been with me from the beginning.' This directly supports Luke's emphasis on the 'from the beginning' aspect of the eyewitnesses' authority and testimony.
2 Timothy 3:14-15Paul reminds Timothy to 'continue in the things you have learned and have been assured of,' acknowledging that he learned them from Scripture which made him wise for salvation. This points to the importance of reliable sources of divine truth, similar to Luke's care in tracing his information back to eyewitnesses.
calvinLuke 1:1-4: "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,"
- Forasmuch as many have undertaken to compose a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2. Even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word; 3. It seemed good to me also, having carefully examined all things from the beginning, to write to thee in detail, most excellent…
meyerLuke 1:2: "Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;"
Luke 1:2 . Καθώς ] neither quatenus , nor belonging to πεπληροφ . (in opposition, as respects both, to Kuinoel, as respects the latter also to Olshausen), but introducing the How , the modal definition of ἀνατάξ . διήγησιν . παρέδοσαν ] have delivered . It is equally erroneous to refer this merely to written (Königsm. de fontibus , etc., in Pott’s Sylloge , III. p. 231; Hug),…
Luke's careful wording subtly highlights that he, unlike the original apostles, isn't claiming to have been an eyewitness himself. Instead, he's drawing from those who were eyewitnesses and who then faithfully passed down the message, emphasizing his role in meticulously preserving their firsthand accounts for us.
Luke begins by acknowledging that many others have already written accounts of Jesus' life and teachings. He clarifies that his own account is based on reliable information passed down from those who were there from the very start – the eyewitnesses and servants of God's message. He's meticulously investigated everything to ensure accuracy for his recipient, Theophilus.
Luke begins by acknowledging that many others have already written accounts of Jesus' life and teachings. He clarifies that his own account is based on reliable information passed down from those who were there from the very start – the eyewitnesses and servants of God's message. He's meticulously investigated everything to ensure accuracy for his recipient, Theophilus.
"just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us," — Luke's careful wording subtly highlights that he, unlike the original apostles, isn't claiming to have been an eyewitness himself. Instead, he's drawing from those who were eyewitnesses and who the…
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Last reviewed October 2026