Luke wrote to Rome – a Suggestion 255 intention was created precisely to “bring to completion” the expectations of Jesus that what was foreseen by Jesus in Acts 1, 8 will come to pass — as the world history has shown. But it is we who construct this relationship between Rome and ‘the end of the earth’, as we try to explain why Luke ends his story in Rome and not ‘at the end of the earth’. * ** We have considered the two opinions that are the basis of this essay – 1) that the reason Luke stopped his writing at Rome, 61-63AD, was that his two- volume narrative for Theophilus and his community has clarified and made solidly convincing (in a way better, in Luke’s mind, than others did), how it came to be that Theophilus received the saving word of God and was made equal to Jewish Christians in the blessings of faith in Jesus, and 2) that Luke was satisfied to stop his writing once he reached Rome, 61AD, for from there one can imagine (and such was Luke’s intention) the future witness about Jesus reaching “to the end of the earth”. The data for justifying either theory is admittedly slim [of ‘hard’ data there is none], but the bases of argument are, we think, in favor of the first opinion above. In short, Luke is interested in supporting the faith of Theophilus through supporting the teachings he has received; Luke is not concerned with the offer of the word of salvation ‘to the end of the earth’. Given his unique interest in writing his second volume, one can suppose that, should he have wanted to bring the saving word of God to the end of the earth, he would have done more than merely suggest it as a goal. Pontifical Biblical Institute John KILGALLEN Rome 00187 SUMMARY Luke wrote, concerned to help Theophilus comprehend the reliability of the things he had been taught. One of the teachings to Theophilus in this tumultuous century is, it seems most likely, an explanation as to how it is that he, a pagan, has become a full member of an exclusionary religion that began as thoroughly Jewish. This attention to Theophilus, it is suggested, makes necessary a story that geographically and chronologically arrives and finishes at the place where Theophilus and his community are; it is to them the story is written (Luke 1, 4). Luke’s work does not stop till Rome, 61 AD, but stops there and then. This strongly suggests Luke’s satisfaction that he has told a story which finally arrives where Theophilus is. That Luke stops his work at Rome, 61 AD, indicates Theophilus and his church are there. By Luke’s story, Theophilus understands the truth many teachings, particularly about his place in God’s plan of salvation.