Gospel of Luke

===Audience and authorial intent===
Luke was written to be read aloud to a group of Jesus-followers gathered in a house to share the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]].{{sfn|Balch|2003|p=1104}} The author assumes an educated Greek-speaking audience, but directs his attention to specifically Christian concerns rather than to the Greco-Roman world at large.{{sfn|Green|1995|pp=16–17}} He begins his gospel with a preface addressed to "[[Theophilus (biblical)|Theophilus]]":<ref>[[Luke 1:3]]; ''cf.'' [[Acts 1:1]]</ref> the name means "Lover of God", and could refer to any Christian, though most interpreters consider it a reference to a Christian convert and Luke's literary patron.{{sfn|Meier|2013|p=417}} Here he informs Theophilus of his intention, which is to lead his reader to certainty through an orderly account "of the events that have been fulfilled among us."{{sfn|Green|1997|p=35}} He did not, however, intend to provide Theophilus with a historical justification of the Christian faith – "did it happen?" – but to encourage faith – "what happened, and what does it all mean?"{{sfn|Green|1997|p=36}}