Based on Acts 16:8–40, we believe Luke left Troas, likely his home town, to visit Philippi with Paul. He evidently stayed to help the believers there when Paul traveled onward. Now, in Acts 20:3–6, it seems Luke rejoined Paul when he later passed through Philippi. In some way Luke discerned that his time in Philippi had come to an end, and thus he wrote that “we” sailed away from there.

How striking that the very next stop was Troas! Luke had probably been away for five years or more. It must have been a great joy for him to renew old acquaintances. And yet Luke had changed. He had not come back to Troas to stay. When Paul left after a week-long visit, Luke went with him, eventually reaching Jerusalem. Ultimately, after another two years, Luke traveled again with Paul, who was then a prisoner, as he sailed to Italy. Luke was there as the ship was broken to pieces in Acts 27; he was there as Paul walked the dusty miles toward Rome in Acts 28.

No doubt Luke had many conversations with Paul during their travels. No doubt he also spoke with many other believers during his time in Jerusalem. Luke’s steadfast presence with Paul and others enabled the Holy Spirit to use him to write both Luke and Acts—two books which contain more than a quarter of all the verses in the New Testament, roughly equal to the amount written by Paul himself.

It is very touching to read some of Paul’s last words, written years later in 2 Timothy 4:11: “Only Luke is with me.” What a faithful friend! May the Lord help us to follow such an example.