18 October is St Luke’s Day. This year’s observance has particular significance, marking the 500th anniversary of the first printed publication of Luke’s Gospel in English. This is the story …

Luke is traditionally known as St Luke the Evangelist, recognised as the author of the two New Testament books traditionally known as “The Gospel According to St Luke” and “The Acts of the Apostles”.

These two books are like two parts of the story of the early Church: the story of Jesus followed by the emergence of his Church. By number of words in the original Greek, Luke is the longest book in the New Testament, closely followed by Acts. Together, they account for approximately 27%, or just over a quarter, of the New Testament. St Luke actually wrote more of the New Testament than St Paul did.