Most Excellent Theophilus

A debated question is the identity of this Theophilus, identified as the recipient of Luke's testimony.  If we take Theophilus seriously as a real person (as opposed to a literary fiction), we need to reckon with what Luke says in his introduction.  Luke writes about witnesses from the beginning, the helpers of the Melchizedek priest, the Word.  Luke's is going to be a temple testimony, and he tells us that Theophilus -- whoever that might be -- already has some instruction in the matter.