Luke's accuracy

During the first century, names of official government positions changed of ten. In spite of this fact, Luke has been found to precisely identify those he names with their correct titles. For example, when Cyprus switched from imperial province to senatorial province in 22 BC, the ruler's title changed as well. Still, Luke correctly identifies Sergios Paullus as "proconsul" of Cyprus rather than by his old title, "imperial legate." Luke also correctly designates the governors of Achaia and Asia as proconsuls since they were under the senate's jurisdiction rather than that of the emperor. Achaia was first under the senate from 27 BC to AD, then under the emperor until AD 44, and again under the senate from that time. In Philippi, Luke's term "praetors" fir the chief magistrates reflects a peculiar egoistical practice confirmed by Cicero: "Although they are called duumvirs in the other colonies, these men wished to be called praetors." Concerning Luke's accuracy in Acts
7:6, an Australian scholar, David Hayles, has published a comprehensive review of the
Quirinius issue. He asserts:

"It is relevant to note at this point that Luke is the only ancient author to have preserved the term 'politarches' (Acts 17:6). Any doubts of his reliability in this respect have been shattered by the discovery of nineteen different inscriptions attesting the title in Thessalonica and Macedonia generally. (HaDJ.RS11 30)

In Acts 28:7, Luke calls Publius "the first man of the island," a title confirmed by Greek and Latin inscriptions as the correct reference to the ruler of Malta at that time. Though Matthew and Mark record the popular designation for Herod Antipas, "king," Luke refers to him by his official title of "tetrarch." As much as Antipas desired it, the Romans granted royal status only to his father, Herod the Great, and not to him. Critics used to charge Luke with an error in Luke 3:1, where he speaks of Lysanias as tetrarch of Abilene. The only Lysanias of Abilene known to modern historians until recently was a "king" by that name, one who was executed by Mark Antony in 34 BC. But once again Luke prevailed over modern critics when an inscription dated between AD 14 and 29 referred to, you guessed it, "Lysanias the tetrarch," a ruler during that time. (RaW.BRD15 297ff).

Luke's accuracy has been confirmed by Luke's descriptions of local "color and atmosphere," Bruce relates:

"The accuracy which Luke shows in the details we have already examined extends also to the more general sphere of local color and atmosphere. He gets the atmosphere right every time. Jerusalem, with its excitable and intolerant crowds, is in marked contrast to the busy emporium of Syrian Antioch, where men of different creeds and nationalities rub shoulders and get their rough corners worn away, so that we are not supposed to find the first Gentile church established there, with Jews and non-Jews meeting in brotherly tolerance and fellowship. Then there is Philippi, the Roman colony with its self-important magistrates and bits citizens so very proud of being Romans; and Athens, with its endless disputations in the markwt-place and its unquenchable thirst for the latest news - a thirst for which its statesmen had chided it three and four hundred years earlier. Then there is Ephesus,with its temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the world, and so many of its citizens depending for their living on the cult if the great goddess; with its reputation for superstition and magic - a reputation so wide-spread in the ancient world of a common name for written charms or spells Was Ephesia grammata (Ephesian Letters). It was no doubt scrolls containing spells that were publicly burnt as Paul powerfully proclaimed a faith which set men free from superstitious fears (Acts 19:19). (BrF.NTD 89)

I must conclude that it is far safer to trust the eyewitness accuracy of Luke than the modern critic, removed by almost two millennia from the events and who has scant archaeological or textual evidence at his disposal. Luke's record entitles him to be regarded as a writer if habitual accuracy.