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Luke, as an historian, begins his gospel account with its purpose, indicating he had done much research, spoken to eyewitnesses, and tried to set everything in order so that we may ‘know the certainty of those things.’ Luke 1:3-4, “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, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

At the start of Chapter 3, he uses the current local and political situation to place John the Baptist in an historical place and time. Having set John as a real person in real history, Luke then goes on to identify him as the one to prepare the way for the Messiah, as foretold by Malachi 4:5, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:” Jesus confirmed this was John the Baptist, Matthew 11:14, : And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”

Together these events help to confirm the historicity of the Bible. Tiberius Caesar was born in Rome on 16th of November 42 BC, and historical records indicate he was the Roman emperor from AD14 – 37. This confirms the time period for the work of John the Baptist. Tiberias was still the emperor at the time of Jesus crucifixion, although it was Pontius Pilate as governor who gave the order in response to the High Priest’s request.

Luke nominates the more local rulers or ‘tetrarchs’ and even the Jewish high priests of the day to strengthen the evidence. In a robust and logical way Luke uses this research into the recent events of his time to confirm that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.

Sometimes we make the error of thinking that faith does not require evidence. In reality, as Luke demonstrates, we are not meant to leave our brain outside the church door, but use existing knowledge to convert our faith to trust. Hebrews Chapter 11 dialogue on faith confirms that faith ‘is the evidence of things not seen’.

Evidence of the truth of God’s word will always be found by those who search with their eyes and heart open to God. Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”