[Note:  This is the prepared text for a sermonette given to the Portland, Oregon congregation of the United Church of God on Sabbath, January 3, 2026.]

When we open the New Testament, we tend to focus on the big names—Jesus Christ, Peter, Paul, John. We notice apostles, miracles, sermons, and journeys. But tucked quietly into the opening lines of two of the most important books of Scripture is a man most of us never think about again after reading his name. His name is Theophilus. He never speaks in Scripture. He performs no miracle. He delivers no sermon that we know of. And yet, without Theophilus, we might not have the Gospel of Luke—or the book of Acts—in the form that we do today. That should make us stop and pay attention.

A Name That Means More Than a Name

The name Theophilus literally means “lover of God” or “beloved by God.” Some have wondered whether that makes him symbolic rather than real—whether Luke was addressing an ideal reader rather than a specific person. But when we look carefully at the text, that explanation doesn’t hold up very well. Luke addresses him as “most excellent Theophilus.” That phrase matters. In the ancient world, “most excellent” was not poetic language. It was an honorific, used for people of rank—officials, governors, men of wealth or influence. Luke uses the same form of address elsewhere for Roman officials like Felix and Festus. This tells us something important: Theophilus was almost certainly a real person, and a person of some social standing. And Luke cared enough about him to write carefully, precisely, and thoroughly.

Why Luke Writes at All

At the beginning of Gospel of Luke, Luke explains why he is writing. He says that many accounts of Jesus’ life are already circulating. These accounts are based on eyewitness testimony, passed on faithfully. But Luke wants to do something specific.  Let’s look at what he says and why in Luke 1:1-4.

Luke 1:1-4 reads:  “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”

In the NIV, Luke says he has “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and decided to write an orderly account, so that Theophilus may “know the certainty of the things” he has been taught. That word certainty is key. Luke is not writing poetry. He is not writing myth. He is not speculating. He is acting as a careful historian and teacher. He wants his reader—Theophilus—to have confidence that what he believes is grounded in real events, real people, and real testimony. That means Theophilus was likely someone who had already been instructed in the faith, but who wanted—or needed—assurance.

Theophilus as Patron and Protector

There is another reason Luke may have addressed his work to Theophilus. In the ancient world, large writing projects were expensive. Scrolls cost money. Time cost money. Travel, research, interviews—none of that was free. Writers often relied on patrons: wealthy supporters who funded the work and, sometimes, provided protection. It is very likely that Theophilus served as Luke’s patron. If that is true, then Theophilus did more than read Luke’s work. He may have made it possible. And here is where the story becomes extraordinary. Because Luke did not stop after the Gospel. He continued with a second volume: Acts of the Apostles. Together, Luke and Acts form a single, unified work—nearly one quarter of the entire New Testament. That is more than Paul wrote. More than John wrote. More than anyone else. And both volumes are addressed to the same man.

We have read the introduction to Luke but now let us turn to Acts 1:1-3 to see the other dedication.  Acts 1:1-3 reads:  “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”  Here we notice that Luke explicitly refers back to the Gospel even as he begins his work on the history of the early Church of God that we know as the Acts of the Apostles, or Acts for short.

Theophilus and the Shape of Christian History

Let’s think about what Luke and Acts give us. Luke gives us the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth. He gives us Mary’s song, Zechariah’s prophecy, Simeon’s blessing. He shows us Jesus’ concern for the poor, the outcast, the foreigner, the sinner. He gives us parables found nowhere else: the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man and Lazarus. Acts gives us the account of Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit. It gives us the early church’s communal life. It gives us Stephen’s martyrdom, Philip’s evangelism, Peter’s breakthrough with the Gentiles, and Paul’s missionary journeys. It shows us how the gospel moved from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. All of that—humanly speaking—flows through Luke’s decision to write carefully for Theophilus. One man’s desire for certainty helped preserve the church’s memory of its own origins.

Faith That Seeks Understanding

Theophilus reminds us of something deeply important: Christian faith is not opposed to careful thought, historical grounding, or reasoned confidence. Luke does not tell Theophilus, “Just believe harder.” He does not say, “Don’t ask questions.” He does not warn him against investigation. Instead, Luke honors those questions by doing the work of historical inquiry. The church has sometimes struggled with this balance. We fear doubt. We worry that asking questions might weaken faith. Luke shows us the opposite: faith grows stronger when it is rooted in truth. Theophilus wanted assurance—and Luke met him there.

Influence Without the Spotlight

There is something else striking about Theophilus. He never becomes famous. He is not later praised in Scripture. We don’t know how long he lived, whether he was martyred, whether he held office, or how publicly he practiced his faith. And yet, his quiet role mattered immensely. This is a recurring pattern in God’s work. God uses unnamed donors, quiet supporters, careful administrators, faithful scribes, and patient listeners. Not everyone is called to preach publicly. Not everyone is called to lead visibly. Some are called to enable the work so that it can endure. Theophilus may have been one of those people. And because of that, generations of believers—across continents and centuries—have been taught, strengthened, and reassured.

A Model for Us Today

So what does Theophilus offer us, here and now? First, he reminds us that seeking clarity is not a lack of faith. Wanting to know why we believe what we believe is honorable. Luke considered it worth his time, his effort, and his skill. Second, Theophilus shows us that supporting the work of truth matters. Whether through resources, encouragement, hospitality, or protection, those who make room for God’s word to be preserved and shared play a vital role. Third, he reminds us that influence is not always loud. Some of the most consequential contributions in God’s plan happen quietly, faithfully, and without recognition. We may never preach a sermon that reaches thousands. We may never write a book of Scripture. But we may enable others to do work that lasts far beyond us.

Conclusion: Beloved by God, Remembered by Scripture

The name Theophilus means “beloved by God.” That is true of him—and it is true of us. God sees the careful thinker, the sincere questioner, the quiet supporter, the person who wants to be sure that their faith rests on solid ground. Luke wrote so that Theophilus might know the certainty of the things he had been taught. And because he did, we know them too. So the next time you open Luke or Acts, pause for a moment at the beginning. Remember the man addressed in the opening lines. Remember that God uses people like Theophilus—people who love Him, seek truth, and make space for His work. And remember that in God’s story, no faithful contribution is ever small.