Luke

Saint Luke the Evangelist was not one of the original twelve Apostles but a Gentile convert, likely from Antioch. He is the only New Testament writer who was not Jewish. He is mentioned in Saint Paul's epistles (Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24, 2 Timothy 4:11) as his 'dear doctor' and faithful traveling companion, especially during Paul's final imprisonments in Rome. He is traditionally recognized as the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, which are essentially two volumes of a single narrative work. His Gospel is noted for its literary elegance, its emphasis on God's mercy towards sinners, the poor, and the outcasts, as well as a particular focus on women and the work of the Holy Spirit. The Acts describe the expansion of the early Church, highlighting the role of the Apostles and Paul's preaching. Tradition also attributes him with being a painter, notably the first to have painted icons of the Virgin Mary. His relics are venerated in the Basilica of Santa Giustina in Padua, Italy. His death is estimated around the age of 84 in Boeotia, Greece, with uncertainty regarding his martyrdom.