Early Church History 

been traveling with Paul and would not have been in one place, where Theophilus held office, for the length of 

time needed to write his Gospel. Thus the Gospel of Luke was written early in that two year period of time 

and Acts of the Apostles was written in the latter part of those two years. 

    Luke's Gospel and Acts are both addressed to the same Roman official, Theophilus. Luke uses the formal 

term  most excellent  to address Theophilus in his Gospel (Lk 1:3). This language was commonly used in 

addressing Roman officials. Examples of this same expression are found in Acts, where it is used to address 

both Felix and Festus (Acts 24:2; 26:25). But, at the beginning of Acts, Luke no longer calls Theophilus  most 

excellent Theophilus,  instead he calls him  O Theophilus  (Lk 1:3; Acts 1:1). This indicates that Theophilus 

was no longer in office by the time that Luke was writing, or had completed writing, Acts. Yet Luke still 

addresses Acts to Theophilus. He must still have been living in the same area and had continued respect and 

(unofficial) authority at that time. Minor Roman officials often held office for only a year. For example, Gallio 

(mentioned above) was proconsul of Achaia, probably for only one year.

664

 Theophilus could have been 

proconsul of Achaia, the region in which Jerome tells us Luke was living when he wrote the Gospel, or he 

could have held some other office within the region of Achaia or Boeotia, (but there is no direct historical 

evidence as to where Theophilus held office). 

    Why would Almighty God allow two inspired works of Sacred Scripture to be addressed to a minor Roman 

official named Theophilus? From a spiritual point of view, the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles were 

both addressed to the name Theophilus because of the meaning of that name. The name Theophilus means 

 one who loves God    `Theo' refers to God (as in `Theology'), and `philus' is from the Greek word `philos' 

meaning `loving.' Thus Luke's Gospel is addressed, in the spiritual sense, not to one Roman official, but to all 

those who love God. Luke's Gospel was not written only or primarily for the Hebrews, who converted to 

Christ, but for all who love God, including the Gentiles. 

Paul Leaves Corinth 

    As concluded above, Paul was in Jerusalem for the Council of 

A.D.

 35, his visit 14 years after his 

conversion. He then went to Antioch and probably wintered there (

A.D.

 35/36) with Barnabas. Then, in spring 

of 

A.D.

 36, Mark arrived in Antioch resulting in a dissension between Paul and Barnabas. Paul resumed his 

missionary journeys in spring of 

A.D.

 36 without Barnabas. The events of Acts 15:40 to 18:1 followed. After 

these travels, Paul spent 1  year in Corinth (within the region of Achaia). 

    Why did Paul spend 1  year in Corinth, rather than a longer or shorter length of time? At least several 

months is required to account for all of the events of Acts 16 to 17. So, after traveling from place to place 

during much of 

A.D.

 36, Paul arrived in Corinth in late fall of 

A.D.

 36. When some of the Jewish leaders tried 

to have him brought to trial before the proconsul of Achaia, a Roman official named Gallio, they failed. Gallio 

would not even consider their accusations (Acts 18:12 17). Thus, Paul was able to stay in Corinth for a longer 

period of time, and was able to winter in Corinth. The length of 1  year means that Paul spent two winters in 

Corinth, before resuming his travels in spring of 

A.D.

 38. Gallio's rule over Achaia most likely ended in late 

spring or early summer of 

A.D.

 37, but apparently the Roman official who replaced Gallio was no more 

willing to persecute the Christians than Gallio. So Paul was able to spend a second winter in Corinth, finally 

departing in the spring of 

A.D.

 38. 

    Why didn't Gallio or his successor take the Jews part in their dispute with the Christians? Herod Agrippa I 

killed James the Greater and imprisoned Peter to please the Jews and so to please the emperor Claudius. But, 

by this time, Claudius had had a change of heart about the Jews. He expelled the Jews from Rome in the 9th 

year of his reign (

A.D.

 34).

665

 Gallio was ruler over Achaia for only one year, and then he would have had to 

report back to Rome; so also with his successor. He was unwilling to favor the Jews because the emperor no 

longer favored the Jews. Gallio's refusal to assist the Jews in their dispute with the Christians was due not only 

to judicial insight into the case before him, but also to self interest. 

    The statements in Acts about Paul's travels after leaving Corinth support the conclusion that he departed 

from Corinth in the springtime. Paul left Corinth by boat; he first  sailed for Syria  (Acts 18:18), then spent 

time in Cenchreae and Ephesus. He then left Ephesus by boat again (Acts 18:21). He continued to travel from 

city to city, declining a request from the church at Ephesus to stay longer. If Paul had left Achaia in summer or 

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