63 or 64 A.D. This Gospel was written, therefore, probably about 60 or
63, when Luke may have been at Caesarea in attendance on Paul, who was
then a prisoner. Others have conjectured that it was written at Rome
during Paul’s imprisonment there. But on this point no positive certainty
can be attained.
It is commonly supposed that Luke wrote under the direction, if not at the
dictation of Paul. Many words and phrases are common to both; e.g.,
compare:
Luke 4:22; with Colossians 4:6. Luke 4:32; with 1 Corinthians 2:4. Luke
6:36; with 2 Corinthians 1:3. Luke 6:39; with Romans 2:19. Luke 9:56;
with 2 Corinthians 10:8. Luke 10:8; with 1 Corinthians 10:27. Luke 11:41;
with Titus 1:15. Luke 18:1; with 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Luke 21:36; with
Ephesians 6:18. Luke 22:19, 20; with 1 Corinthians 11:23-29. Luke 24:46;
with Acts 17:3. Luke 24:34; with 1 Corinthians 15:5.
- LUNATIC probably the same as epileptic, the symptoms of which
disease were supposed to be more aggravated as the moon increased. In
Matthew 4:24 “lunatics” are distinguished from demoniacs. In 17:15 the
name “lunatic” is applied to one who is declared to have been possessed.
(See DAEMONIAC.) - LUST sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from
God (Romans 1:21). “Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not
of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses
and of spiritual activity.” In Mark 4:19 “lusts” are objects of desire. - LUZ a nut-bearing tree, the almond. (1.) The ancient name of a royal
Canaanitish city near the site of Bethel (Genesis 28:19; 35:6), on the
border of Benjamin (Joshua 18:13). Here Jacob halted, and had a prophetic
vision. (See BETHEL.)
(2.) A place in the land of the Hittites, founded (Judges 1:26) by “a man
who came forth out of the city of Luz.” It is identified with Luweiziyeh, 4
miles north-west of Banias.
- LYCAONIA an inland province of Asia Minor, on the west of
Cappadocia and the south of Galatia. It was a Roman province, and its
chief towns were Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. The “speech of Lycaonia”
(Acts 14:11) was probably the ancient Assyrian language, or perhaps, as