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

(c) Luke began his gospel a great deal further in the past than the others did.

(d) It is most mighty, and therefore Theophilus was a very honourable man, and in a place of great dignity.

People's New Testament

1:3 Most excellent Theophilus. The name means A lover of God. He is named in Ac 1:1, but of him nothing more is known.

Wesley's Notes

1:3 To write in order - St. Luke describes in order of time; first, The Acts of Christ; his conception, birth, childhood, baptism, miracles, preaching, passion, resurrection, ascension: then, The Acts of the Apostles. But in many smaller circumstances he does not observe the order of time. Most excellent Theophilus - This was the appellation usually given to Roman governors. Theophilus (as the ancients inform us) was a person of eminent quality at Alexandria. In Acts 1:1, St. Luke does not give him that title. He was then probably a private man. After the preface St. Luke gives us the history of Christ, from his coming into the world to his ascension into heaven.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] from

"From the very first": Gr. "anothen," "from above." Song translated in Jn 3:31 19:11 Jas 1:17 3:15,17. In no other place is ANOTHEN translated "from the very first." The use by Luke of anothen is an affirmation that his knowledge of these things, derived from those who had been eye-witnesses from the beginning Lk 1:2 was confirmed by revelation. In like manner Paul had doubtless heard from the eleven the story of the institution of the Lord's Supper, but he also had it by revelation from the Lord (cf) 1Cor 11:23 and his writing, like Luke's anothen knowledge, thus became first-hand, not traditional, merely.

Margin understanding

Gr. "parakolouhekoff," lit. followed alongside of; or, closely traced.

Margin in order

The words "in order" are emphatic, indicating Luke's purpose to reduce to order the Gospel story.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. from the very first-that is, from the very earliest events; referring to those precious details of the birth and early life, not only of our Lord, but of His forerunner, which we owe to Luke alone.

in order-or "consecutively"-in contrast, probably, with the disjointed productions to which he had referred. But this must not be pressed too far; for, on comparing it with the other Gospels, we see that in some particulars the strict chronological order is not observed in this Gospel.

most excellent-or "most noble"-a title of rank applied by this same writer twice to Felix and once to Festus (Ac 22:26; 24:3; 26:25). It is likely, therefore, that "Theophilus" was chief magistrate of some city in Greece or Asia Minor [Webster and Wilkinson].

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:1-4. Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another, and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are, and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend, have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.