<P> The earliest manuscript of the Gospel, dated circa AD 200, ascribes the work to Luke; as did Irenaeus, writing circa AD 180, and the Muratorian fragment from AD 170 . </P> <P> The gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles make up a two - volume work which scholars call Luke--Acts . Together they account for 27.5% of the New Testament, the largest contribution by a single author . </P> <P> Most scholars understand Luke's works (Luke--Acts) in the tradition of Greek historiography . The preface of The Gospel of Luke drawing on historical investigation identified the work to the readers as belonging to the genre of history . There is some disagreement about how best to treat Luke's writings, with some historians regarding Luke as highly accurate, and others taking a more critical approach . </P> <P> Based on his accurate description of towns, cities and islands, as well as correctly naming various official titles, archaeologist Sir William Ramsay wrote that "Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy...(he) should be placed along with the very greatest of historians ." Professor of Classics at Auckland University, E.M. Blaiklock, wrote: "For accuracy of detail, and for evocation of atmosphere, Luke stands, in fact, with Thucydides . The Acts of the Apostles is not shoddy product of pious imagining, but a trustworthy record...it was the spadework of archaeology which first revealed the truth ." New Testament scholar Colin Hemer has made a number of advancements in understanding the historical nature and accuracy of Luke's writings . </P>

Who wrote the book of luke in bible