## Confirmed By Internal and External Criteria
### He correctly details a sea voyage
In Acts 13-14, Luke refers to a natural crossing between two ports which are correctly named in the text. The next part of the passage discusses the city of Perga which is a plausible direct destination for a ship crossing from Cyprus. It is noted that a 'coaster' would have only been called at the coastal harbor town of Attalia.
In 1848, James Smith of Jordanhill published "The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul". Smith was an experienced yachtsman who was familiar with the Mediterranean region where Paul's ship had sailed. In his book, Smith testified to the incredible accuracy of Luke's account of each stage of the voyage. He was even able to use the details given by Luke to pinpoint the precise location on the coast of Malta where the shipwreck had occurred ([James Smith](https://paperpile.com/app/p/0752d9e7-73ee-02ac-b9d9-5f81ab5e8500 'The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul: With Dissertations on the Life and Writings of St. Luke, and the Ships and Navigation of the Antients')).
### He uses the correct historical and cultural terminology
Luke has shown himself to be accurate with facts that can be checked, paying close attention to the context of the historical setting ([Sabine R. Huebner](https://paperpile.com/app/p/123f5b01-57b4-09b4-86d9-2de4bf5b8a03 'Papyri and the Social World of the New Testament') [Colin J. Hemer, Conrad H. Gempf](https://paperpile.com/app/p/be6b2014-cca9-080a-9aa0-771ac3360ff3 'The Book of Acts in the setting of Hellenistic history'), [W. Ward Gasque](https://paperpile.com/app/p/13b9bd02-8f4e-048a-b3fd-28f5ba64aa4a 'The historical value of acts'))
Luke uses the term "politarchs" to identify the officers or magistrates in Thessalonica. This term is only used in that city and is not found elsewhere in ancient literature. Luke's use of the term "politarchs" is considered accurate and reliable as it is consistent with what we know about the city of Thessalonica from other historical sources. This is just one example of how Luke's attention to historical and cultural details helps to establish the credibility of his account ([Jan N. Bremmer](https://paperpile.com/app/p/2b9b34ec-1060-05c5-8faa-77f02a0dd7f3 'The Rise of Christianity Through the Eyes of Gibbon, Harnack and Rodney Stark: A Valedictory Lecture on the Occasion of His Retirement from the Chair of Religious Studies, in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies')).
He is the only New Testament writer who names a Roman emperor, and he mentions three of these emperors by name: Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius. He also refers to the emperor Nero, but not by his name.
Luke establishes the birth of Jesus occurring during the reign of Emperor Augustus when Herod the Great was the king of Judaea and an imperial census was being taken. He also elaborately dates the commencement of the public ministry of John the Baptist through a series of synchronisms in the Greek historical manner. This dating style is reminiscent of the way classical writers like Thucydides dated historical events.
Throughout his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, Luke includes the names of many notable people in the Jewish and Gentile world of his day. Besides emperors, he mentions Roman governors like Quirinius, Pilate, Sergius Paullus, Gallio, Felix, and Festus. He also includes members of the Herodian dynasty, such as Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, and the vassal kings Herod Agrippa I and II, Berenice, and Drusilla. Additionally, Luke names leading members of the Jewish priestly caste, including Annas, Caiaphas, and Ananias, as well as Gamaliel, the greatest contemporary Rabbi and Pharisaic leader.
Luke's inclusion of such a diverse cast of characters sets him up for scrutiny by his critical readers. However, Luke passes the test of historical accuracy. One of the most remarkable tokens of his accuracy is his sure familiarity with the proper titles of all the notable persons mentioned in his pages, which was not an easy feat in his day. Despite the challenge posed by changing titles due to shifting governance, Luke accurately refers to the proper titles of historical figures, such as the proconsul Sergius Paullus. Luke's use of titles in the Roman Empire has been compared to the confident way in which an Oxford man might refer to heads of colleges by their proper titles in ordinary conversation ([F. F. Bruce](https://paperpile.com/app/p/e2d51c8e-50ea-06d6-9eb6-e7a1c4b4e112 'The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?'))
### He Said Jesus Was From Nazareth
<'The Town Of Nazareth'>
### Luke Was Right About The Census
<'Luke Was Right About The Census'>
The accuracy of Luke's account in the New Testament is substantiated by both internal and external evidence. The detailed description of a sea voyage in Acts 13-14 matches known maritime routes and port locations of the time, an observation affirmed by yachtsman James Smith. Furthermore, Luke's use of unique cultural terminology, such as the term "politarchs" in Thessalonica, and correct titles for contemporaneous figures like Roman governors and Herodian dynasty members, lend credibility to his narrative. Archaeological findings and literary references from the first century AD corroborate his claim that Jesus was from Nazareth, a town whose existence was once disputed. Lastly, the mention of a Roman census during Augustus's reign aligns with external historical records, reinforcing the trustworthiness of Luke's account.