Short answer: the most‑likely author is Luke — the Gentile physician and traveling companion of Paul — who is traditionally and commonly held in evangelical circles to have written the Gospel of Luke (and Acts). Evangelicals see him as a careful historian and as the person who compiled the early life material (including Luke 2:16–20) from eyewitness testimony.
Key points from an evangelical perspective
– Identity and supporting references
– Luke is named in the New Testament as a close associate of Paul (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11).
– Early church tradition (Irenaeus, Clement, Tertullian, etc.) attributes both Luke and Acts to the same writer, Luke the physician.
– Internally, the Gospel of Luke and Acts form a two‑volume work (see Luke 1:1–4 and Acts 1:1), indicating common authorship.
– Who Luke was
– Traditionally understood to be a Gentile (not one of the Twelve) and a physician, often called “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14).
– He was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts and Pauline letters) and therefore well placed to investigate and gather material.
– How Luke gathered material
– Luke 1:1–4 states he carefully investigated eyewitness testimony and earlier accounts to write an “orderly” narrative for Theophilus. Evangelicals emphasize that this means Luke used reliable sources — including, very plausibly, eyewitnesses such as Mary (note Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”), and others who had seen Jesus and the events of his birth and ministry.
– Acts contains several “we” passages (beginning in Acts 16) that corroborate Luke’s presence with Paul on parts of his mission journeys, supporting his identity as a companion and investigator.
– Date and historical reliability
– Evangelicals generally date Luke–Acts to the mid‑first century (often the 60s AD, though some allow slightly later). They affirm Luke as a careful historian whose Gospel is trustworthy for reconstructing Jesus’ life and ministry.
– Luke’s writing style (educated Greek, attention to historical detail, use of medical vocabulary) fits the profile of a literate, investigative author.
– Why this matters for Luke 2:16–20
– Evangelicals view Luke 2:16–20 (the shepherds visiting the newborn Jesus, their proclamation, and Mary’s response) as rooted in reliable tradition. Luke’s method — investigation, use of eyewitness memory, and orderly reporting — lends historical credibility to the nativity narrative.
– Theologically, Luke highlights the universal scope of salvation (good news announced to humble shepherds), themes consistent with Luke’s whole Gospel and with the perspective of a Gentile physician interested in Jesus’ concern for the marginalized.
– Summary of the evangelical stance
– Luke is the most likely author; he is seen as a careful, historically minded writer and as inspired Scripture (evangelicals affirm the divine inspiration and authority of Luke’s Gospel). His background as a Gentile physician and companion of Paul is taken to explain both his access to testimony and his interest in orderly, historically sensitive reporting of events such as Luke 2:16–20.
If you’d like, I can list the specific New Testament and early‑church references that point to Luke, or summarize Luke’s narrative and theological emphases in Luke 2 in more detail.
