Luke 1:3

Luke 1:3

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

a. ASV: it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

b. YLT: it seemed good also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: It seemed good and desirable to me, [and so I have determined] also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

1. “It seemed good to me also…”

a. [It] seemed [Strong: 1380 dokéō, dok-eh'-o; a prolonged form of a primary verb, δόκω dókō dok'-o (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of G1166) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):—be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.]

b. [good] to me also [Strong: 2504 kagṓ, kag-o'; from G2532 and G1473; so also the dative case κἀμοί kamoí kam-oy', and accusative case κἀμέ kamé kam-eh' and (or also, even, etc.) I, (to) me:—(and, even, even so, so) I (also, in like wise), both me, me also.]

2.  “...having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first…”

a. [having had] [Strong: 199 akribōs, ak-ree-boce'; adverb from the same as G196; exactly:—circumspectly, diligently, perfect(-ly).]

b. understanding [Strong: 3877 parakolouthéō, par-ak-ol-oo-theh'-o; from G3844 and G190; to follow near, i.e. (figuratively) attend (as a result), trace out, conform to:—attain, follow, fully know, have understanding.]

c. [of] all [things] [Strong: 3956 pâs, pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

d. [from the] very first [Strong: 509 ánōthen, an'-o-then; from G507; from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew:—from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.]

3.  “...to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,”

a. [to] write [Strong: 1125 gráphō, graf'-o; a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:—describe, write(-ing, -ten).]

b. [unto] thee [Strong: 4671  soí, soy; dative case of G4771; to thee:—thee, thine own, thou, thy.]

c. [in] order [Strong: 2517 kathexēs, kath-ex-ace'; from G2596 and G1836; thereafter, i.e. consecutively; as a noun (by ellipsis of noun) a subsequent person or time:—after(-ward), by (in) order.

d. most excellent [Strong: 2903 krátistos, krat'-is-tos; superlative of a derivative of G2904; strongest, i.e. (in dignity) very honorable:—most excellent (noble).]

e. Theophilus [Strong: 2321 Theóphilos, theh-of'-il-os; from G2316 and G5384; friend of God; Theophilus, a Christian:—Theophilus.] [Zodhiates: Theophilus, meaning lover of God. A distinguished individual probably of Greece or Rome to whom, as his particular friend or patron, Luke addressed both his gospel and his history of the Acts of the Apostles. The title ‘most excellent” probably denotes official dignity. It was used twice in referring to Felix the Governor in Acts 23:26; 24:3; and once to Festus in Acts 26:25.] [Theo-God; phileo-love.]

1). Luke wrote the gospel of Luke first and then the book of Acts.

a). Acts 1:1-5 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.